The symptoms of chronic prostatitis are usually mild and treatment is not carried out in the initial phase. However, the problem can be resolved if you take it seriously.
What is that
Many patients learn about what chronic prostatitis is when they visit a doctor for a completely different reason. However, this disease is very dangerous and is a long-lasting inflammatory process that occurs in the prostate. If left untreated, serious complications can occur: impotence, infertility, vesiculitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
There are several forms of the disease:
acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate gland. Characterized by typical pain in the lower abdomen and when urinating;
chronic bacterial prostatitis, which, along with the clinical picture of the acute form of the pathology, is accompanied by the presence of bacteria and an increase in the level of leukocytes in urine and prostate secretions;
chronic prostatitis, a consequence of a previous bacterial form of the disease with ineffective treatment or absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, characterized by the absence of any symptoms, but which manifests itself during laboratory diagnostic methods.
More than 90% of cases of the disease are responsible for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, which is asymptomatic, which leads to delayed treatment.
Is it possible to cure
The diagnosis itself indicates that the disease has been progressing in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to consult a doctor for such an urgent issue until the situation becomes critical. However, the sooner a man seeks medical help (at the first signs of health problems), the more effective the treatment will be and the greater the likelihood of completely getting rid of the disease. In its advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to cure, but with adequate and regular therapy, symptoms will become less pronounced. That is why timely consultation with a doctor is so important.
Causes
The disease occurs in men aged between 20 and 50 years and depends on a series of prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate in several ways:
ascending (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenic (through lymphatic channels);
hematogenous (through the blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that provoke the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus, pathogens of a viral, fungal, parasitic nature, as well as chlamydia, gonococci, Gardnerella and others.
Disturbance of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This may be due to a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (drivers, office workers) and poor nutrition. As a result, congestion and swelling occur in the prostate tissues and incomplete expulsion of secretions from the organ cavity is observed. All this leads to partial or complete dysfunction of the gland.
Prolonged sexual abstinence or interrupted sexual intercourse. These actions also provoke inflammatory processes in the prostate.
Accompanying diseases. First of all, these are pathologies of a urological nature: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, untreated acute prostatitis. However, the cause of chronic prostatitis can also be other diseases: chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
Frequent and prolonged stay in the cold, in conditions of high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is poorly expressed at the initial stage. Men, as a rule, do not feel any discomfort or do not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease, if they do not interfere with a normal lifestyle. Over time, the general condition worsens and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
The appearance of pain in the perineum, genitals, groin. The pain can be weak, aching or quite intense during urination, defecation, after sexual intercourse and during ejaculation. Often the pain syndrome spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum and testicles.
Disturbances during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and burning in the urethra. The presence of thread-like formations in the urine is noted. During defecation, secretion may occur from the urethra, which indicates insufficient prostate tone.
Sexual function disorders. In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there is decreased libido, unstable or absent erection, pain during and after sexual intercourse, hemospermia and infertility.
Poor sleep, irritability, increased nervousness, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be observed during an exacerbation of the disease and have small deviations from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but they may be constant.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic studies make it possible to refute or confirm a presumptive diagnosis, determine what type of disease it is and how it can be cured.
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The main diagnostic procedures are:
general urine analysis;
analysis of prostate secretion for the presence/absence of pathogenic microflora, as well as to determine deviations of physiological parameters from normal values (increased number of leukocytes, etc. );
bacteriological culture of urine and urethral smear;
a three-cup urine sample to determine the area of localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Prostate ultrasound;
study of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive anomalies);
urodynamic and endoscopic examinations;
determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of how to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the severity of the pathology and its type. The disease requires an integrated approach to its elimination or stable relief of symptoms.
Drug treatment
It involves taking medications from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which are necessarily prescribed when diagnosing a bacterial form of pathology. However, such therapy may also be indicated for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis if a persistent positive effect is observed. Medicines from the groups of penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones are taken strictly according to the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
Antispasmodics that help eliminate painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic.
Alpha1 blockers used to reduce prostate hypertonicity and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating medications.
The drug regimen is selected individually in accordance with the characteristics of the diagnosis and individual drug intolerance (if any).
Non-drug treatment
In this case, the positive effect of therapy is achieved by physical influence of a different nature on the diseased area. Patients may be prescribed:
Prostate massage. Activates the complete expulsion of secretions from the prostate, improves blood circulation and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage along with antibiotics is especially effective in treating chronic bacterial prostatitis. However, there are contraindications to its use if the patient is diagnosed with:
acute bacterial prostatitis;
concomitant diseases of the gonads (vesiculitis, cooperitis);
the presence of stones in the prostate;
prostate cysts;
HPB;
organ cancer or suspicion of it;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other disorders.
Electrophoresis. The physiotherapeutic procedure involves the therapeutic effect on the pathological area with a small electric current (no more than 50 μA). In this way, recovery reactions are stimulated, pain is relieved and blood flow in the gland tissues is optimized. Electrophoresis promotes the deep penetration of antibiotics into the structures of the prostate, thus increasing the effectiveness of their action.
Ultrasound. The method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, as it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function and suppresses pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the use of ultrasound therapy along with medications. This method allows medications to penetrate the deep layers of the affected organ and act more effectively.
Magnetotherapy. The physiotherapeutic procedure has a comprehensive restorative effect on the genitourinary system, improves metabolic processes and neurogeneration.
Magnetic laser therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats the manifestations of the disease, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Inductometry is exposure to a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
Urethral instillations, mud therapy, therapeutic enemas, hot baths.
Physiotherapy combined with drug treatment makes it possible to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect and, in most cases, completely defeat the disease in the initial phase.
Surgical intervention
Recommended in cases where it is impossible to help the patient with other methods.
Prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate while maintaining erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TURP) is an operation to excise or remove overgrown glandular tissue. Prescribed for adenoma or prostate cancer.
Laser surgery. The operation involves removing tissue from the affected organ using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "sealed", eliminating bleeding.
Prostate abscess drainage. This surgery allows pus to be extracted from the gland cavity through a rubber drainage inserted through the perineum or rectum, cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. Surgery involves making several cuts in the prostate to relieve pressure from the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After surgical intervention, the patient requires rehabilitation, the time interval for which, depending on the type of surgery used, varies from 2-3 days to several months.
Folk remedies
Herbal remedies are also effective medicines in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For these purposes, tinctures, decoctions, food mixtures or ointments are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
aspen bark;
hazelnut leaves and bark;
chestnut shells;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe etc.
Regular use of herbal medicine helps to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore impaired functions and have a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that you should pay attention to at the first signs in order to eliminate dangerous complications and cure it in time.