Chronic prostatitis: symptoms and treatment

Inflammatory processes observed in the prostate tissue for three months or more are called chronic prostatitis.The long course of the disease makes it possible to judge the beginning of the chronic stage.Statistics show that acute and chronic prostatitis often occurs against the background of complicated urethritis.

A distinctive feature of chronic prostatitis is that in 50-70% of cases the disease does not manifest itself with pronounced symptoms.Only in 20% of cases do patients describe signs indicating a chronic form of prostatitis.The rest of the male category only notesindirect symptoms of the disease, not directly linked to prostatitis.Young people as well as middle-aged and elderly men are not immune from chronic prostatitis.

Those who suffer from a lack of physical activity, are associated with sedentary work and practice sexual abstinence are susceptible to prostatitis.Thus, truck drivers, who spend most of their time behind the wheel, experience the effects of negative factors: hypothermia and congestion of the pelvic organs.Representatives of contact sports and weightlifters are prone to microtrauma of prostate tissue.Men who exhibit low sexual activity become hostages to this unpleasant disease due to stagnation of prostate secretions.They affect the prostate, causing acute and chronic prostatitis, various sexually transmitted infections, through blood or lymphatic fluid.

Types and stages of chronic prostatitis

In urological practice, we distinguish:forms of chronic prostatitis:

• Bacterial.The cause of the disease lies in an infection or pathogenic bacteria that has penetrated the prostate.Chronic prostatitis caused by chlamydia is the most common.The danger of this form lies in the possible infertility that awaits a man without timely treatment.
• Abacterial.Chronic prostatitis of a non-infectious nature.Diagnosing the exact cause is quite problematic.As a rule, such prostatitis develops due to the anatomical features of a man's prostate gland.The incorrect structure of the organ creates increased pressure on the urethra, which leads to frequent flow of urine.Autoimmune diseases can also cause degenerative changes in prostate tissue.
• Stagnant.Chronic congestive prostatitis develops when the prostate does not empty completely and excess blood mass forms.Stagnation creates an inflammatory response.
• Constant pelvic pain syndrome.A man complains of constant, unrelenting pain in the perineal region.
• Asymptomatic.Chronic prostatitis occurs in a latent form, without causing pain or discomfort, despite the presence of inflammation.

Chronic prostatitis has its own stages of development

• Exudation stage.Rapid ejaculation and sharp pain in the prostate.
• Alternative step.Painful sensations are replaced by discomfort, a reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse and frequent urination.
• Proliferation stage.The frequency of the urge to go to the toilet increases, but problems with diuresis appear.
• Stage of scar change.Sclerosis of healthy prostate tissue occurs.As a result of morphological transformations, heaviness appears in the sacrum and pubis, the stream of urine weakens and power decreases.The sensations during orgasm are often blurred.

Causes

• Infection.The source of pathogenic bacteria entering the prostate is blood and lymphatic vessels.Urological diseases and inflammation of the rectum are a prerequisite for infection of prostate tissue.Infection methods:
  • Descending- the infection enters the gland with urine, which contains microbes.
  • Rising— The path of microbes entering the prostate begins from the external opening of the urethra.
• Decreased protective functions of the body.Weakened immunity is one of the main culprits of chronic prostatitis.This is facilitated by hypothermia, frequent stressful situations, poor diet and bad habits.When immunity decreases, the body becomes exposed to infections that cause inflammation of the prostate.
• Bad circulation.A sedentary, sedentary lifestyle is closely linked to chronic prostatitis.A man's internal organ systems suffer from a lack of physical activity: endocrine, cardiovascular, nervous.Blood microcirculation in the pelvis deteriorates, leading to hypoxia of prostate cells.
• Lack of regular sex life.Refusal of intimate life and excessive sexual activity lead to prostate problems.Many men with a strong sexual constitution engage in vigorous sexual activity.Through frequent sexual intercourse, their nervous system becomes exhausted, hormonal disorders appear and the erection gradually weakens.Incomplete sexual intercourse seriously harms prostate health.
• Chronic prostate damage.The soft tissues of the prostate, often subject to injury from excessive stress, jolts and vibrations, can periodically become inflamed.
• Transurethral procedureswithout concomitant antibiotic therapy, it can cause prostate infection.
• Urethral catheter, with which a man is forced to live for some time, also contributes to prostate infection.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis vary.Some of the first signs of chronic prostatitis that attract attention are pain during urination and impaired sexual function.As a rule, problems in the intimate sphere force a man to seek help from a doctor.In case of discomfort and pain in the pelvic regiondoes not subside for more than three months, then with high probability we can talk about chronic prostatitis.

Most often, the pain syndrome extends to the perineal region, however, the discomfort can be localized in the pubis and groin.A man complains of pain in the anus, scrotum and glans.The pain radiates to the lumbosacral region.Pain attacks may cover the inner thighs.Pain in one of the testicles does not usually indicate prostatitis.Complaints of pain after ejaculation are specific for the chronic course of the disease.

Common symptoms of chronic prostatitis also include increased sweating, feeling cold, and trembling in the perineum.Poor circulation in the pool can lead tochanges in skin color.

The chronification of the inflammatory process in the prostate leads to a disruption of its tone.In some cases, prostatorrhea develops.With this pathology, spontaneous secretion from the gland occurs, which has no connection with arousal or ejaculation.

In cases of chronic prostatitis, men may observe, mainly in the morning, small purulent or clear discharge from the penis.Some patients find white flakes or threads in their urine.A sign of advanced calculous prostatitis is the presence of traces of blood in the semen.

The appearance of sexual dysfunction, simultaneously with a decrease in libido and a deterioration of spontaneous erections, is noted by many patients.It should be noted that the majority of patients suffer from impotence.has no critical connotation.In the early stages of chronic prostatitis, men suffer from premature ejaculation, which can become difficult over time.Some patients report a decrease in the intensity of sensations during sexual intercourse.Urination problems are most often irritating in nature.

Diagnosis of biological material of a man with chronic prostatitis reveals a quantitative and qualitative violation of prostate secretion.Morphological deviations of ejaculate parameters are rarely associated with male infertility.

During remission, most symptoms disappear and pain decreases.Many men calm down, attributing the situation to self-healing.But without proper treatment, infectious foci in the prostate persist and during the period of exacerbationsymptoms worsen significantly, a mild fever persists.

Diagnosis of the disease

The diagnosis of chronic prostatitis is not difficult for an experienced urologist.Probably the most difficult thing here is to establish the real cause that led to chronic prostatitis.

To confirm the diagnosiscarry out the following steps:

• Rectal examination with fingers.A digital examination is performed during a man's first visit to a urologist.The back of the prostate is in contact with the rectum, which allows the condition of the prostate to be assessed when a finger is inserted into the anus.Palpation of the posterior surface of the gland helps determine the size and shape, as well as the consistency and pain of the inflamed organ.
• Microscopic examination of prostate secretion.When studying biological material, a laboratory technician may notice an increase in the number of leukocytes, which signals the spread of pathogenic bacteria.
• Culture of glandular secretionon the nutrient medium, the type of bacteria and antibiotic resistance by RIF and PCR methods.
• Cystoscopy.An endoscopic imaging system device is inserted into the bladder cavity.This method of diagnosing chronic prostatitis allows you to exclude cancer, cystitis and bladder damage.
• Ultrasound.The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound scan before starting treatment for acute prostatitis, so as not to miss the formation of abscess of the organ.For men suffering from chronic prostatitis, an ultrasound scan is performed to detect stones and cysts, as well as to assess the level of urethral pressure.Today, transrectal ultrasound is more effective, in which a sensor is inserted into the rectum.
• Uroflowmetric diagnostic method.In this way, indicators of the urinary process are studied: the duration and speed of urine flow.A flow rate greater than 10-15 ml/s indicates good permeability of the urethra.Indicators below this norm indicate poor patency of the urinary canal caused by chronic prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis: treatment

Each clinical case requiresindividual selection of treatment regimen.When choosing a therapeutic model, the causes of the disease, the duration of the course and the presence of aggravating factors are taken into account.

Drug treatment:

• Antibiotics.Antibiotic therapy is only indicated in cases of infection of the prostate by a bacterial agent identified in prostatic secretions or in urine.Antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone group are prescribed.Treatment lasts two to eight weeks.After antibacterial treatment, the extent of symptoms often persists, provided that the infection factor has been eliminated.
• Alpha blockersprescribed to men to reduce hypertonia of the bladder muscles and stabilize intraurethral pressure.They are ineffective if the patient has impaired muscle innervation and pelvic floor muscular dystrophy.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Helps relieve pain syndromes.
• Selective antidepressants.Prescribed to men to improve their emotional background, relieve anxiety and self-doubt.
• Hormonal drugs.Antiandrogens and androgens are used to adjust hormonal levels.
• Immunostimulating drugs.Prescribed in cases of proven immunodeficiency.
• Uric acid level regulators.The appointment is justified if there is sand and stones in the prostate.
• Vitamin complexes.

Auxiliary methods for the treatment of chronic prostatitis

Some urologists believe that the physical impact on the prostate significantly relieves the patient's condition.But most of these therapeutic methods have their contraindications.prescribed under certain conditions:

• Prostate massage.Contraindicated in prostatic hyperplasia as it may cause acute urinary retention.Additionally, by doing massage you can spread the infection throughout the prostate and cause sepsis.Massage should not be performed in case of cystic formations in the prostate or venous stagnation.To relieve the gland from stagnation, natural drainage during ejaculation is considered the best way.
• Bladder gymnastics.Treatment consists of a group of special exercises aimed at improving muscle tone of the bladder and its sphincter.
• Instillations.Infusion of medicinal solutions deep into the urethra.The procedure is very painful and often ends in complications.
• Physiotherapy.Treatment of the prostate with transrectal ultrasound, electrical stimulation, magnetotherapy and phonophoresis will be beneficial in cases of poor tone of the pelvic floor muscles.Physiotherapy brings only temporary relief to the patient's condition.A lasting effect can be achieved only after eliminating the causes of prostatitis.
• Traditional medicine recipes.Honey with pumpkin seeds, alcoholic tincture of horse chestnut and other traditional methods are used after consultation with the attending physician.

Surgical treatment of chronic prostatitis

Considering what pathological process caused prostatitis, they usetransurethral resectionprostate gland.This is a modern surgical treatment method that has replaced open surgery.An endoscope is used to drain the formed prostate cyst, and surgical correction of the seminal vesicles is carried out in case of obstructed outflow of secretions.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis -long process, requiring patience and endurance from a man.To prevent the disease from overtaking you, you need to monitor your health, strengthen your immune system and treat colds in a timely manner.