We have selected 22 basic questions about prostatitis and its treatment. All answers are written by our leading male health specialist, andrologist. We hope this article helps you and gives you the answers you need.
Symptoms of prostatitis: pain, burning, leakage, stinging, incontinence
Symptoms of prostatitis are most often of 3 types:
- urinary incontinence: difficult, frequent, nocturnal urination.
- pain symptoms: pain in the perineum, lower abdomen, groin. The pain may radiate to the scrotum or sacrum.
- mixed form, in which there are urinary disorders and pain.
What causes prostatitis?
With bacterial prostatitis
The infection enters the prostate gland from neighboring organs:
- urethra;
- Bladder
- through the blood and lymphatic vessels from a distant inflammatory focus (tonsillitis, sinusitis, caries).
The most common bacteria detected in the prostate are: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus.
The role of sexually transmitted infections is discussed: chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas.
The activity and, accordingly, the manifestation of the inflammatory process depends on the properties of the microorganism, the condition of the pelvic organs, their blood circulation, concomitant diseases and other predisposing factors.
With non-bacterial prostate
Stagnation plays an important role. Violation of blood flow causes edema, exudation of prostate tissue and creates conditions for the development of an inflammatory process that is not accompanied by a bacterial agent.
SST and prostatitis
The issue of the involvement of sexually transmitted infections in the development of prostatitis is widely discussed in scientific medical circles. There is no consensus on this issue.
We consider ourselves as supporters of a direct link between infections, onset and course of prostatitis.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Prostatitis does not pose a threat to the patient's life, the process is chronic and worsens the quality of life.
The onset of prostatitis. How to determine? The first signs
The first signs of prostatitis are changes in the nature of urination: hard, frequent urination, frequent urge to urinate, especially at night. Discomfort during urination and pain of varying intensity in the groin area.
Age of prostatitis? Is this a disease of the young and / or the elderly?
Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease, so it can appear at any age. But prostate adenoma or hyperplasia is an age-related disease in men after the age of 50 and is associated with the development of a benign prostate tumor.
Chronic prostatitis. Is it possible to cure?
The presence of a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis implies the presence of changes in the structure of glandular tissue, which remain for life. Like any chronic disease, prostatitis continues with alternating periods of deterioration and remission - a period when the patient worries about nothing. With proper treatment and lifestyle, remission periods can be very long and complaints never bother the patient again.
Bacterial prostatitis and other types
There are various classifications, the most used being developed by the US Institutes of Health in 1995:
- Category I.Acute prostatitis.
- Category II.Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Category III.Non-bacterial prostatitis / Chronic pelvic pain syndrome - with no obvious signs of infection and lasting 3 months or more.
- Subcategory III A.Chronic pelvic inflammatory pain syndrome (with leukocytes in prostate secretion and pathogen secretion).
- Subcategory III B.Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (no leukocytes in prostate secretion).
- Category IV.Asymptomatic prostatitis (with leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate, but without complaints).
For ease of understanding, the classification can be presented in 3 types:
Acute prostatitis- continues with severe pain, fever, urinary disorders. The secretion of the prostate is a large number of leukocytes, which indicates a clear inflammatory process. Occurs, as a rule, for the first time in a certain patient. If these symptoms appear in a patient with chronic prostatitis, then they are called a worsening of chronic prostatitis.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis- Symptoms that periodically bother the patient, as a rule, are less pronounced than in acute prostatitis. When an increase in leukocytes in prostate secretion is diagnosed, it is possible to identify the causative agent of inflammation.
The most problematic thing about the diagnosis isnon-bacterial prostatitis, or so-calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome. . . This is due to the fact that the complaints are very similar to prostatitis, but are associated with diseases of other organs and systems, in which it is not possible to detect signs of inflammation and pathogenic bacteria: pelvic muscle spasm, impaired interaction between musclesof the bladder and its sphincter, anatomical disorders - narrowing (narrowing) of the urethra, lead to inflammation due to increased pressure inside the lobules of the prostate gland.
Who treats prostatitis - andrologist or urologist?
Prostatitis is treated by a urologist and an andrologist.
An andrologist is a urologist specializing in male reproductive and reproductive diseases.
Methods and regimens of treatment for prostatitis
All treatment regimens for the prostate gland consist of drugs:
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- biogenic stimulants
- drugs that improve prostate and bladder contraction by relaxing the sphincter.
Good results are obtained with the simultaneous appointment of drugs and physiotherapy (prostate massage, complex for the treatment of prostatitis).
What tests are given for prostatitis?
ABOUTdiagnosis of prostatitisConsultation with a urologist (andrologist) is required to collect patient complaints, medical history, microscopy of prostate secretions, and ultrasound diagnosis.
For diagnosis, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate gland (TRUS) and prostate secretions obtained after prostate massage are used for microscopic examination.
In addition, planting the prostate gland secretion in the bacterial flora by determining the susceptibility of the seed microflora to antibiotics can be used.
Interventions and surgical operations for prostatitis
With prostate, surgeries are practically not used. With the exception of prostate abscess - a process in which foci with purulent contents are formed.
Is it possible to cure prostatitis yourself?
In the presence of severe symptoms, it is better to be treated by a specialist, the time factor plays a big role in the treatment, as the longer the inflammation lasts, the more likely the irreversible changes in the organ are.
But it is better to do the prevention yourself, no doctor will do it for you.
Avoid hypothermia, overload during prolonged sitting, sexually transmitted infections, irregular sexual activity - all this is the way to effective prevention of prostatitis.
Remedies for prostatitis: finalgon, vitaprost, prostamol, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, omnix and others
Drugs for the treatment of prostatitis are divided into groups according to the mechanism of action:
Antibacterial agents (antibiotics)are prescribed only if there is a diagnosis: chronic bacterial prostatitis. Fluoroquinolones, macrolides and the most widely used doxycycline group of drugs.
Alpha blockers:are prescribed to restore impaired urination, increasing bladder contraction, and relaxing its detrusor.
Large groupbiogenic stimulants and herbal preparations: candles.
Effective treatment is possible only with accurate diagnosis, as there is no universal remedy for all types of prostatitis. Often, patients take medication to treat prostatitis if they have a completely different disease but with similar symptoms.
Nuts, roots, parsley, cucumber, honey, bee, caterpillar and other popular treatments for prostatitis
Traditional methods of treatment have a right to exist, but you must understand that it is very difficult to choose a popular method that suits you. On demand, the search engine gives 70 million results for treating prostatitis with popular methods.
No one has researched popular methods for effectiveness. The fact that it has helped a patient with such a treatment (and if it has helped) does not mean that it will help you.
Worsening of the prostate after treatment. Remission
All chronic inflammatory processes have periods of irritation and remission, when the patient does not worry about anything. The duration of remission can vary and depends on many factors, including whether the patient is undergoing prophylactic treatment. Patients who undergo periodic preventive treatment without expecting a deterioration in well-being, as a rule, have rarer exacerbations.
Prostate gland massage at home. Is massage always necessary for prostatitis?
Prostate massage can also be done at home if you are married to a urological nurse. Every medical manipulation has its own details and nuances. Indications for this procedure can be determined only by the doctor, so for some diseases: prostate adenoma (in the presence of acute urinary retention), prostate massage is not desirable and in case of tumors is contraindicated.
Alcohol and prostatitis
Alcohol, in itself, does not cause the development of prostate, but is a factor that increases congestion and swelling of the prostate gland and, thus, contributes to its development.
Sex life and prostatitis
There is a direct link between the intensity of sexual activity and prostate disease. With prolonged abstinence in the prostate, stagnation occurs, which worsens metabolic processes and disrupts blood microcirculation, contributing to the development of inflammatory processes. Regularity is more important to prostate health than the intensity of sexual intercourse. Excessive sexual intercourse, especially with different partners and unprotected from infections, are the fastest way to prostatitis.
Does it affect female prostates?
Of course, there is an effect on the health of a woman with prostate in a partner. The prostate, along with the seminal vesicles, produces a liquid component of sperm, which during sexual intercourse enters the partner's genital tract. The main risk may be the presence of a sexually transmitted infection or bacterial prostatitis, which can provoke inflammatory disease in a woman.
Pregnancy and prostatitis
Because the prostate gland produces a liquid portion of sperm that contains nutrients for sperm, prostatitis often causes a decrease in sperm quality, which makes it difficult to get pregnant.
Prevention. What should you do to avoid prostatitis?
Prevention is directly related to the patient's climate and profession.
Prevention of prostatitis is about avoiding and minimizing the factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis. It is necessary to avoid hypothermia, to alternate sedentary work with periods of physical activity. Regular sex life is important for prostatitis.