Causes, symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis

Middle-aged and elderly men often suffer from pathologies of the genitourinary system related to the prostate gland. This organ is exposed to inflammatory processes that cause serious discomfort. The most common pathology is chronic prostatitis. It is difficult to treat and is accompanied by severe clinical manifestations.

Pathological causes

According to statistics, about 30% of men of reproductive age experience one form or another of prostatitis. In almost 70% of cases, this disease is asymptomatic, which makes it dangerous to health.There are many reasons for the development of pathology:

1. Ignoring the symptoms of the acute form of the disease often leads to its transition to the chronic stage with periodic relapses.
2. Frequent hypothermia of the body and frequent catarrhal pathology provoke inflammation of the glands.
3. A sedentary lifestyle causes blood stagnation in the pelvis and leads to disruption of blood supply to the prostate gland. If a man's professional activity is associated with constant sitting in a sitting position, then the likelihood of developing prostatitis increases several times.
4. Choose tight underwear that squeezes the pubic area.
5. Bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking) often cause the development of pathology, because they contribute to the disruption of all important processes in the body.
6. Chronic infectious diseases of the urinary system can also cause inflammation of the glands.
7. Acute and chronic forms of venereal pathology. If the recommendations of experts are violated or the symptoms of the disease are ignored, the infection may spread to the glands.
8. Frequent stress and nervous exhaustion. Such factors can trigger pathology, especially with a simultaneous decrease in immunity.
9. Lack of minerals and vitamins in the daily diet can be a predisposing factor. If the deficiency remains, other diseases accompany chronic prostatitis.

Infrequent sexual intercourse and the absence of a regular partner increase the risk of chronic prostatitis. Treatment in this case is also delayed, because the patient experiences not only physical discomfort, but also emotional.

Classification of diseases

Depending on the cause of the beginning and the course of the pathological process, there are two types of diseases: bacterial and non-bacterial. Separately, experts distinguish asymptomatic or atonic prostatitis. Each species has its own characteristics.

Bacterial prostatitis is easily detected during a diagnostic examination. Tests usually show the cause of the inflammation. There are many pathogens especially in the secretions released during glandular massage. In the blood, the level of leukocytes almost always increases, because the body produces them in large quantities to fight pathogens.

The non-bacterial form of pathology is characterized by a milder course, but almost always the patient experiences severe pain in the small pelvis. It is the pelvic pain syndrome that is considered the main criteria for diagnosis.

It is very difficult to identify the type of disease without symptoms, because there are no obvious signs of inflammation. Pathological changes in the prostate occur, but the man does not feel it. Specialists make the diagnosis by chance or during examination for other pathologies.

Clinical picture

In the acute form of the pathology, a man immediately feels a deterioration in his condition, but in the case of chronic prostatitis, there may be no symptoms, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.With the prolonged development of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• discomfort during urination, extending to the area of the bladder projection;
• frequent urge to void with a simultaneous decrease in the amount of urine released;
• discomfort during sexual intercourse, problems with erection and ejaculation;
• the feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder related to the narrowing of the ducts, causing prolonged but unproductive urination;
• the development of cystitis, pyelonephritis associated with the multiplication of bacteria in the bladder and the spread of infection to the kidneys;
• changes in the color of urine, the appearance of blood impurities or pus;
• decreased libido;
• general weakness, fatigue, decreased performance;
• irritation and psycho-emotional stress;
• slight increase in body temperature;
• pain in the pelvis and scrotum, radiating to the sacrum or rectum.

The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of damage to the tissue of the prostate gland. Sometimes patients only experience pain, and no other manifestations.

If the patient does not go to the doctor for a long time, he may experience complications. The most common is vesiculitis, or inflammation of the seminal vesicles. Often, when the symptoms of chronic prostatitis appear at a young age, the patient is diagnosed with infertility, which is difficult to treat.

The most dangerous consequence of untreated or neglected prostatitis is prostate cancer. Often the benign pathology of the organ develops - an adenoma, which can also develop into a malignant tumor.

Diagnostic method

Before treating chronic prostatitis, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic examination. During the initial treatment, the specialist interviews the patient, learns about habits, lifestyle characteristics, frequency of sexual intercourse and professional activity. The information helps to identify the cause of the suspected disease. Then the doctor listens to the patient's complaints and determines the degree of damage to the gland.

The next step in diagnosis is clinical blood and urine tests. They usually show an increase in the number of leukocytes and an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in a man.

The patient must undergo an X-ray examinationprostate and ultrasound. Thanks to this method, you can see changes in body structure, deviations in one direction or another. In addition, computed tomography can be performed to identify concomitant pathologies of the genitourinary system.

If a tumor is suspected, a biopsy specimen should be taken. In the laboratory, experts study the cell structure and make a final diagnosis. If the tumor is benign, the doctor also determines the possibility of malignancy. After receiving the results of the diagnostic examination, the specialist determines the direction of therapy.

Medical therapy

Treatment of chronic prostatitis with drugs is considered the most common way. Doctors always choose conservative methods if there is a possibility of recovery.The most commonly used drugs are:

1. Antibacterial agents can relieve inflammation in a short time and prevent the spread of the process to neighboring organs. Most often, tablet forms of penicillin and fluoroquinolones are used. As the form runs, the powder is set to provide a solution. This medicine is given intravenously or intramuscularly in a hospital setting. With the ineffectiveness of these drugs, macrolides are used, which have a stronger effect. Popular drugs in this group are available in the form of tablets and lyophilisates for the preparation of injection solutions. The course of therapy lasts from 10 to 20 days, depending on the severity of the condition.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and prevent further development of the pathological process. The course usually does not exceed 7 days. Patients with pathologies of the digestive tract should not take the drug without first consulting a doctor.
3. Muscle relaxants help relax smooth muscles and make it easier to urinate. The duration of therapy and dosage is determined by the doctor.
4. Rectal suppositories relieve swelling, pain and inflammation, improve the general condition of the patient. The duration of the therapeutic effect is 10-14 days.

Also, the therapy regimen includes a vitamin complex to strengthen the immune system and quickly recover the body after treatment. Among the funds, there are complexes designed specifically for men. The minimum duration of the reception course is 30 days.

Surgical intervention

If it is impossible to cure the pathology in a conservative way, the doctor decides to perform an operation to remove the organ completely or partially. The absolute indication for surgical intervention is prostate cancer.

The transurethral resection method consists of dissecting the urethra and removing part of the gland to reduce the condition. If removal is not required, simple organ surgery is performed to normalize urination.

The open adenomectomy method is used with significant growth of the gland and the addition of other pathologies. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. This technique is more often used to treat elderly patients, when other methods and interventions are ineffective.

Use of physiotherapy

In parallel with drug treatment, physiotherapy is often used to speed up recovery and prevent complications.The most popular and effective method is massage.prostate through the rectum. This technique improves blood supply and organ nutrition, preventing the spread of inflammation to neighboring organs.

To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to do at least 10 sessions. This procedure is performed by a specialist in a hospital or clinic.

Electrophoresis on the projection area of the prostate allows you to normalize blood flow there. The essence of this technique is the use of low-frequency electric current, which has a positive effect on the condition of the genitourinary system, stimulates tissue regeneration, and relieves inflammation. The course is at least 10 sessions, sometimes more procedures are needed to get lasting results.

Ultrasound and laser therapy, paraffin therapy and other methods are often prescribed. The choice of treatment method depends on the individual characteristics of the patient's body.

Preventive measures

Compliance with simple rules will help prevent the development of chronic prostatitis. It is recommended to avoid hypothermia, lead an active lifestyle. You should not torture the body with intense exercise, but moderate and regular exercise will help prevent blood stagnation in the pelvis and the development of prostatitis.

Experts recommend including pumpkin seeds, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs in the diet. Do not abuse alcoholic beverages. Quitting smoking will reduce the risk of developing an inflammatory process. A balanced diet will help maintain the immune system, prevent colds and viral pathologies.

To prevent prostatitis, it is necessary to visit a urologist every 6 months. This will detect pathology at an early stage and prevent its transition to a neglected form. When the early signs of the disease appear, you should contact a medical institution to start therapy on time and avoid complications.