Chronic prostatitis: symptoms, prevention and treatment

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that affects men of all ages.In most cases, it occurs due to the effects of sexual infections and opportunistic microflora on the prostate gland.By itself, inflammation of the gland is not scary, but if there is no effective treatment, it can cause urinary disorders, pain, and lead to male infertility and impotence.Also, the development of chronic prostatitis is often facilitated by an inactive lifestyle and lack of a regular sex life.

What role does the prostate gland play in the body?

The prostate, shaped like a chestnut, is located below the bladder.It prevents seminal fluid from entering it, and also produces prostate secretions, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common causes of chronic inflammation of the prostate are sexually transmitted infections and pathogens.For example, Trichomonas.An inactive lifestyle also contributes to the development of prostatitis.But prostatitis itself is not so scary due to the fact that this disease is a trigger for the occurrence of a more serious disease - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

Causes of this disease also include:

• frequent hypothermia;
• low immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• someone has bad habits;
• pelvic organ injury;
• sedentary lifestyle.

The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:

1. Infection.They enter the body in various ways - through the urethra, through the bloodstream or lymph from the focus of infection or inflamed organs in the body itself.
2. Poor blood circulation in the prostate glandor stagnation of its secretion, which occurs in the following cases:
   • sexual abstinence for a long time;
   • frequent interrupted sexual intercourse or unrealized stimulation;
   • defective ejaculation.

Stress and alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in men.Exacerbations are often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, errors in diet (too spicy food, alcohol).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms:

• discomfort or pain in the groin and suprapubic area, perineum, scrotum, rectum, lumbosacral area;
• frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (continuous or during urination);
• intermittent or slow urine flow;
• reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• absence of regular/continuous morning erection (spontaneous);
• pulling pain in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which disappears by itself within half an hour.

Many men do not pay attention to the signs of chronic prostatitis, believing that the disease will disappear on its own.However, it develops, causing various complications: pyelonephritis, cystitis, vesiculitis.Over time, infertility and impotence develop against the background of inflammation of the prostate gland.

Disease diagnosis

To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo laboratory and instrumental examinations.It includes:

• general urinalysis,
• general blood test,
• examination of prostate secretions,
• bacteriological examination of prostate secretions to identify microflora with the determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs,
• blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland,
• digital examination of the prostate.

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

This disease causes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate a man's life:

• Urinary disorders: frequent urination day and night, weak urine flow, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, colliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercles.
• Gland abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
• Sclerosis of the prostate – develops with prolonged prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, as a result, prostate stones.
• Impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment of this disease should only be done under the constant supervision of a doctor.One of the best and most effective modern drugs used to treat chronic prostatitis is made from prostate tissue extract.Its use provides quick results and elimination of symptoms.

Since the therapy must be complex, other drugs must also be used:

• antibacterial,
• alpha blockers,
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There is no universal cure.Therefore, the doctor can recommend antibacterial drugs of different groups.Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others.All of them affect the cause of the disease - bacterial infection.

Alpha blockers are drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostate urethra and bladder neck, to facilitate the outflow of urine by relieving spasms.In fact, they do not treat, but only relieve the symptoms of painful inflammation.

Among anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend those that reduce inflammation and reduce pain.

Drugs	Benefits	Cons	Recommendations for use
Fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into prostate tissue. Good bioavailability. Equivalence of oral and parenteral pharmacokinetics. Good activity against typical and atypical pathogens.	Cross allergies. Phototoxicity. Effects on the central nervous system.	Recommended for use.
Diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into prostate tissue. No dose selection required. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae.	Second line drug.
Macrolides	Moderate activity against gram positive bacteria. Activity against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into prostate tissue. Low toxicity.	Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria.	Used for specific pathogens.
Tetracycline	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	Used for specific pathogens.

An effective cure for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base, there is a drug from bovine prostate gland tissue extract.Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules.This medicine is effective in treating both acute and chronic forms of the disease.This medicine is available in the form of suppositories (rectal suppositories) and ampoules (injections), the effect of this medicine is to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood circulation at the micro level.

Effects of drug use for chronic prostatitis:

• Elimination of dysuric disorders and normalization of the urinary process.
• Improves the functional state of the prostate gland.
• Reduces congestion, reduces swelling of the prostate gland.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalization of full blood circulation in the pelvic area, reducing the possibility of blood clots forming in blood vessels.
• A decrease in the concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate the prostate tissue.

Treatment methods for chronic prostatitis

In most cases, chronic diseases are successfully treated with conservative methods.But it should be remembered that therapy will bring quick positive results only with an integrated approach.It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that caused this disease, otherwise, the possibility of relapse.Abuse of alcoholic beverages, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and promiscuous sexual relations are very harmful to the male reproductive system.

Treatment procedure:

• Prostate massage, carried out manually through the anal.Keep in mind that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
• Physiotherapy procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and drug absorption into tissues.Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasonic heating and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using an enema.
• Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated using the balneotherapy method, that is with the help of mineral water.For the treatment of prostatitis patients, low mineral water is usually prescribed, both internally and in the form of a bath.
• Diet therapy.You should start following a special diet at the first signs of prostatitis.First of all, you should avoid alcoholic drinks, because ethyl alcohol irritates the prostate duct, increasing pain and inflammation.It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat to avoid the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation.Beans, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks, and baked foods are prohibited.

Diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (it is found in seafood and pumpkin seeds).It is recommended to eat as many vegetables as possible (except those that contribute to gas formation, such as cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and dried fruits.

Preventive measures

Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads a healthy lifestyle: watching his diet, exercise, etc.Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by abandoning bad habits and relaxed sexual intercourse.

There are primary, aimed at preventing the occurrence of the disease, prevention, and secondary, the task is to prevent the recurrence (worsening) of existing chronic prostatitis.

Primary preventioncomes to frequent sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, adherence to a regimen of physical activity, timely and complete treatment for any infectious (purulent) disease of the body and timely sanitation of the oral cavity.

Secondary preventionproviding regular examinations by a urologist and preventive treatment - multivitamins, rehabilitation drugs, exercise.

Howdrugs for prophylaxisprostate disease, suppositories can be used.