Prostatitis occurs in two forms: acute and chronic. If acute inflammation is quickly treated with antibiotics, chronic prostatitis becomes a serious problem in older men and negatively affects quality of life. Chronic prostatitis can be caused by both infection and congestion in the pelvic organs. The disease requires complex and long-term treatment.
Disease classification
Chronic prostatitis in men is divided into two types: congestive (abacterial, congestive) and infectious.
Chronic congestive prostatitis is a consequence of the alteration of the trophism of the prostate. The disease develops with heart failure or lack of a regular sex life.
Chronic abacterial prostatitis is characterized by moderate symptoms and the absence of acute pain syndrome. When analyzed, infectious agents are not detected in the secretion of the prostate, which is why the disease is called abacterial.
Infectious chronic prostatitis is a consequence of untreated bacterial inflammation. The disease begins in an acute form due to an infection of the prostate gland. The disease becomes chronic due to the lack of adequate and timely therapy. Chronic infectious prostatitis is characterized by periodic exacerbations.
Causes of chronic non-infectious prostatitis
Speaking of chronic prostatitis, most of the time we refer to a non-infectious disease caused by congestion in the pelvic organs. This is due to a violation of the trophism of the prostate - blood circulation, lymphatic flow, outflow of prostate secretions.
This form of the disease is directly related to lifestyle and is considered a disease of office workers. The main reason for the development of congestive prostatitis is physical inactivity.
Among the factors that predispose to the development of congestive prostatitis are:
- sedentary work;
- lack of regular sports;
- unbalanced diet;
- obesity;
- bad habits;
- varicose veins;
- hemorrhoids;
- irregular sex life.
The disease develops against the background of any condition, accompanied by circulatory disorders of the lower extremities. Most often, prostatitis appears with obesity, when, as a result of increased load on the lumbar region and lower extremities, metabolic processes in this zone are disturbed.
If, due to the nature of the profession, you have to sit all day, you must move at least at night.
Bad habits can trigger the development of prostatitis. Smoking destroys blood vessels and interrupts normal blood flow. Due to the physiological characteristics of a person, this mainly affects the blood circulation of the lower extremities and the pelvic region.
Sex plays an important role in the functioning of the prostate gland. The optimal number of sexual intercourse per week for a man over 40 is 3 to 4. A smaller amount leads to a violation of the outflow of prostate secretion, a larger amount leads to organ depletion.
Another cause of congestive prostatitis is heart failure. This disease is characterized by impaired blood circulation, including in the pelvic organs.
The reasons for the development of chronic infectious prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a consequence of acute inflammation of the untreated prostate. This form of the disease is characterized by severe symptoms and the presence of pathogens found in the secretion of the prostate.
The most common causative agents of infectious prostatitis:
- E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- staphylococci and streptococci;
- chlamydia;
- ureaplasma;
- Trichomonas;
- fungal flora.
The infection enters the prostate gland in three ways: with the bloodstream, the lymph, or through the urethra. The last route of penetration of pathogens is valid in cases of chlamydia, ureplasma or Trichomonas infection.
Reasons for the development of the disease:
- decreased immunity;
- severe hypothermia;
- stress;
- long-term antibiotic therapy.
Conditionally pathogenic bacteria are always present in the body, and only strong immunity does not allow them to activate.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis develops from an acute form in the following cases:
- the presence of a chronic infection focus;
- incorrectly selected antibiotic therapy;
- late discontinuation of treatment;
- weakened immunity.
In most cases, the chronic form of the disease develops precisely due to improper treatment. This happens when the scheme of antibiotic therapy is not drawn up correctly or self-medication. Stopping antibiotics when you feel better results in the pathogen not being completely eradicated. Any decrease in immunity or hypothermia in this case leads to the new development of the disease.
The most difficult to treat fungal prostatitis caused by yeast-like fungi. This pathogen rapidly develops resistance to antifungal medications, making treatment difficult and increasing the risk of developing a chronic form of the disease.
Symptoms of the disease
In chronic prostatitis, symptoms are mild, but with decreased immunity or after stress, the disease worsens.
The most common symptoms of chronic prostatitis in men are:
- urination disorder;
- heaviness in the prostate;
- weakening of potency;
- nightly need to use the bathroom.
With an exacerbation of chronic prostatitis, pain is noted in the bladder and perineum. The frequency of urgency to go to the bathroom can reach 10 per hour. At the same time, the flow of urine is weak, it is necessary to strain the muscles to urinate, but the process itself does not bring relief, and repeated urges appear after a few minutes.
The symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis largely depend on the form of inflammation. With congestive prostatitis, erection problems are common. This is due to impaired blood circulation. Ejaculation can occur quickly or disappear completely due to thickening of the prostate secretion.
In case of infectious inflammation of the prostate gland or chronic bacterial prostatitis, painful urination and burning in the urethra may occur after ejaculation. These symptoms are accompanied by irritation of the urethral mucosa by pathogens contained in the secretion of the prostate.
Prostatitis and erectile dysfunction
The inflammation of the prostate is not visible to the naked eye, the symptoms of chronic prostatitis have no visible manifestation, but refer to internal disorders. One of the characteristic symptoms of the disease is a weakening of the erection.
Erectile dysfunction in congestive prostatitis develops in several stages. The disease itself can continue for a long time without pronounced symptoms, and signs of prostatitis will appear only with a strong weakening of the immune system.
Bacterial inflammation of the prostate may be suspected due to changes in erection. At the beginning of the development of the disease, an increase in potency is observed. The man gets aroused quickly, but ejaculation also comes quickly. This is due to a change in the viscosity of the secretion of the prostate gland. Discomfort may be felt during ejaculation, but the pain is characteristic of infectious but not congestive prostatitis.
This causes a series of psychological problems that aggravate the course of the disease. Erectile dysfunction due to problems with blood flow is exacerbated by fear of a sexual partner, which can lead to the development of impotence in the context of prostatitis.
Urinary disorder
Problems with urodynamics are seen in all forms of prostatitis.
Chronic abacterial inflammation is characterized by the nocturnal urge to urinate. It is caused by inflammation of the prostate gland, which is aggravated at night. There is a weakening of urinary pressure and the need to tighten the pelvic floor muscles to urinate. At the same time, you feel heaviness and fullness in your bladder and occasional spasms may appear. Due to the frequent need to use the bathroom at night, sleep problems and insomnia appear. All this affects the psychological state of man and further aggravates the course of the disease, since against the background of stress there is a decrease in immunity and a slowdown in metabolic processes.
Men often complain of cramps in the lower abdomen, which is explained by increased tone of the bladder muscles. Usually, severe symptoms of prostatitis are noted with a decrease in immunity. Without an exacerbation of the disease, the pain syndrome can be completely absent.
Congestive prostatitis is characterized by severe prostate edema. The contours of the organ become blurred, the prostate itself swells and increases in size. In this case, there may be a feeling of fullness in the rectum and increased discomfort during bowel movements. Urination problems are due to compression of the urethra by the swollen prostate gland.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
The consequences of chronic prostatitis depend on several factors:
- age of the patient;
- severity of symptoms;
- current duration;
- the efficacy of drug therapy.
The longer a man lives with chronic prostatitis, the more serious the consequences of the disease. In most cases, the urinary system is affected. With bacterial prostatitis, a kidney infection is possible when urine flows backward. This is due to the entry of pathogens into the urethra during ejaculation.
Constant irritation of the bladder and urethra can lead to inflammation. Against the background of prostatitis, cystitis and urethritis of various nature are often diagnosed.
In chronic prostatitis, the consequences affect the psycho-emotional state of man. Violation of potency, frequent need to go to the toilet, bladder discomfort - all this leads to the development of stress. Prostatitis can be an indirect cause of neurosis and depression.
Disruption of the nervous system against the background of constant discomfort in the genitourinary organs leads to a decrease in immunity and the deterioration of all metabolic processes in the body. Thus, prostatitis provokes nervous disorders, which in turn aggravate the course of the disease, and the circle is closed.
Constant malaise, decreased potency, inability to sleep - all these greatly affect quality of life.
Disease diagnosis
If inflammation of the prostate is suspected, a urologist or andrologist should be consulted. The following diagnostic methods are used to make a diagnosis:
- rectal palpation of the prostate;
- Ultrasound and TRUS of an organ;
- kidney ultrasound;
- prostate secretion analysis;
- PSA blood test.
The need for additional examinations is determined after palpation of rectal organs. This procedure is also known as a prostate massage. The doctor inserts two fingers into the rectal opening and palpates the prostate. The inflammation is evidenced by a change in the structure of the organ, the heterogeneity of the tissues and the contours of the prostate. During the massage, the organ is stimulated and the secretion of the prostate is secreted from the urethra. It is being compiled for further analysis. Analysis of prostate secretion shows:
- amount of lecithin grains;
- leukocyte and erythrocyte count;
- presence of pathogenic microorganisms;
- presence of fungal microflora.
This allows not only to determine the nature of the inflammatory process, but also to identify the pathogen in infectious prostatitis.
Ultrasound and TRUS are performed more to exclude stones in the prostate than to diagnose prostatitis, as the method is not very informative, in contrast to the analysis of secretions.
A PSA blood test is prescribed to exclude oncopathology in the prostate gland. It also detects inflammation or adenoma of the prostate. How to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the test results and the type of inflammation.
Treatment functions
The treatment regimen for chronic prostatitis is a combination of drugs, physical therapy and folk methods. Treatment is complemented by a change in lifestyle - adjusting the menu, giving up bad habits, regular sports and sex life.
It is important to understand that for chronic prostatitis, treatment will take at least six months. In addition to drugs to relieve inflammation, men are prescribed long-term rehabilitation therapy, which is necessary to normalize the function of the prostate gland.
Medications
The way to cure chronic prostatitis depends on the form of the disease. Medications for chronic prostatitis include:
- antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs;
- rectal suppositories to normalize trophism;
- immunostimulants and agents that improve general health.
For the treatment of chronic prostatitis in men, antibiotics are used, but only if it is an infectious inflammation of the prostate. How to treat infectious prostatitis in men depends on the pathogen and the success of the previous therapeutic course. In acute bacterial inflammation, macrolide antibiotics are prescribed in most cases. They effectively suppress the activity of pathogens and have a wide spectrum of action. In case of non-compliance with the treatment regimen or improper selection of drugs, the microorganisms that caused the inflammation quickly develop resistance to macrolides, which largely provokes the transition of the disease to a chronic form.
Fluoroquinolones are effective antibacterial agents for microbial prostatitis. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms.
Despite the fact that fluoroquinolones do not have natural analogues, which is the reason for the lack of resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to the action of the drug, it is necessary to carefully follow the treatment regimen selected by the doctor. Otherwise, the drug will be ineffective, and antibiotic therapy will need to be repeated.
Antibacterial drugs and tablets are not used to treat chronic, non-infectious prostatitis. With congestive prostatitis, inflammation is not caused by microbes, but by a violation of trophism, therefore it is not appropriate to use antibiotics for treatment. Instead, they use anti-inflammatory drugs. They are applied in short courses to reduce inflammation and swelling. The drugs are prescribed in suppositories or injections. The treatment lasts a week on average, the drug is administered rectally at night or intramuscularly once a day. In case of severe inflammation, it is possible to use the drug twice a day.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are not antibiotics. Tablets are successfully used to relieve the inflammatory process with non-infectious or congestive prostatitis. On average, doctors prescribe two pills a day for 5 days and then transfer the patient to therapy with phytopreparations that improve prostate trophism.
In severe urinary disorders, treatment is supplemented with drugs from the group of alpha-blockers. These medications relax the bladder, reduce muscle tone, and allow urine to flow normally. The drugs in this group are taken one tablet per day in short cycles, treatment with alpha-blockers rarely exceeds a week.
Once the inflammation has ceased, congestive (cognitive) and infectious prostatitis are treated with drugs that normalize the trophism of the prostate gland. Medicines contribute to:
- reduce inflammation;
- relief of pain syndrome;
- normalization of urination;
- power increase.
For chronic prostatitis, these drugs are used for at least two weeks. They come in the form of rectal suppositories. The recommended dose is one candle daily at night.
Propolis suppositories are recommended to restore local immunity. They relieve inflammation, improve blood circulation and discharge of prostate secretions, and also significantly increase immunity, preventing an exacerbation of prostatitis. The drugs come in the form of small suppositories that are injected into the rectum at night.
Also, your doctor may recommend ichthyol suppositories. They relieve inflammation and reduce swelling of the prostate.
Echinacea extract preparations are recommended as a general tonic for prostatitis. They strengthen the immune system and prevent the development of exacerbations of prostatitis. With the appearance of neurosis and insomnia against the background of prostatitis, the doctor may recommend sedatives.
Physiotherapy for chronic prostatitis
The causes of chronic prostatitis lie in poor circulation in the pelvic organs. To accelerate the recovery and restoration of prostate trophism, physiotherapy methods are widely used:
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- shock wave therapy;
- acupuncture.
Of non-traditional methods, acupuncture (acupuncture) and leech therapy (hirudotherapy) are distinguished.
There are many methods of home physiotherapy. The most popular are special devices. They create alternating magnetic fields that have a positive effect on metabolic processes, eliminating congestion in the pelvic organs.
darsonvalization can also be used at home. This is a microcurrent effect that improves metabolic processes. You can purchase home treatment devices at any medical equipment store, but it is recommended that you check with your doctor first.
Prostate massage is used to treat congestive prostatitis. It is performed by a specialist in a medical center. Stimulation of the organ allows you to get rid of edema and discomfort, and also relieves stagnation of prostate secretions. The course of treatment consists of 10-15 procedures.
Folk remedies
The treatment of chronic prostatitis depends on the variety of therapeutic measures that are taken. Traditional medicine will help complement drug treatment.
Homemade suppositories are used to relieve inflammation of the prostate. To prepare candles, you will need 200 g of any fat base, 40 ml of propolis extract. The base is melted in a water bath, propolis is slowly poured into it, constantly stirring. When the product acquires a uniform color, it is poured on transparent film and packed in the form of a sausage. The dough needs to be refrigerated for an hour to cool. When the product has cooled, it is divided with a knife into equal torpedo-shaped pieces, approximately 5 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. These candles should be stored individually wrapped in the refrigerator. The recommended dose is a suppository in the rectal opening before going to bed. The duration of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
You can also make candles with pumpkin seed oil and honey. The proportions are 200 g of base, 50 ml of oil and 3 tablespoons of honey. As a basis, you can take beeswax, lanolin, cocoa butter. Such suppositories relieve inflammation, improve prostate function, and increase immunity.
To cure chronic prostatitis at home, you can use various infusions and decoctions. One of the most effective remedies is parsley juice. It should be taken 3 large tablespoons a day.
Traditional medicine recommends consuming 30 g of pumpkin seeds a day. They contain many nutrients that are necessary for the normal function of the prostate gland.
Another effective treatment is a mixture of pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and honey. To prepare the drug, you need to take 100 peeled seeds and the same number of walnuts, put them in a convenient container and pour 500 ml of honey. The product is kept in the refrigerator for 4 days to infuse, and then 4 large tablespoons are taken a day.
Surgical treatment
The possibility of curing chronic prostatitis permanently depends on the severity of the disease and the age of the patient. With frequent exacerbations, you must constantly take drugs.
Surgical treatment of prostatitis is not performed in most cases. Perhaps the use of radical measures - complete removal of the prostate gland. Such an operation is performed only if the prostate does not perform its functions due to chronic inflammation and drug treatment is ineffective. In addition, the removal of the prostate is performed with the risk of developing oncology.
Interestingly, the effects of prostatitis are generally seen in old age, in men over 65 years of age. In this case, a number of difficulties arise in treatment:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- contraindications to taking medications;
- many side effects.
Many men, who have suffered from prostatitis for more than 10 years, insist on surgery. This is generally associated with a poor tolerance to medications and a host of side effects. Doctors say that surgery is a last resort, and with the right approach, prostatitis can be cured with conservative methods.
Prevention and prognosis
Having found out what chronic prostatitis in men is and how dangerous it is, the question immediately arises whether the disease can be completely cured.
Patient testimonials indicate that chronic prostatitis can be cured, but it will take a long time. The course of treatment lasts on average six months or more. Urologists agree that proper therapy, lifestyle changes, and a balanced diet will help eliminate inflammation.
Most of the time, men who do not follow the doctor's recommendations experience flare-ups and repeated bouts of inflammation after a long remission, but are treated on the advice of their friends. It is important to understand that successful treatment of therapy depends on the correct selection of drug therapy. Lead to exacerbation or reappearance of the signs of chronic prostatitis can:
- unsystematic drug intake;
- failure to comply with the doctor's recommendations;
- stop treatment after the first improvement;
- bad habits;
- lack of physical activity.
Self-selection of medications often leads to impaired well-being. This is especially true in cases of infectious inflammation, when the patient independently selects antibiotics without testing.
A common mistake men make is stopping treatment when the first improvements appear. In this case, the inflammation does not go away, it only subsides for a while. With a decrease in immunity or hypothermia, the disease will make itself felt again.
In addition to medications, prostatitis requires lifestyle changes. It is important to stop bad habits, normalize nutrition and start playing sports. With prostatitis, it is recommended to do yoga, exercise therapy, swimming. Any exercise that involves the pelvis will benefit. Men with this condition, especially sedentary work, should do 10-minute exercises every day and do a full workout several times a week. Also, during the treatment of chronic prostatitis, it is necessary to have sexual intercourse, as regular ejaculation helps reduce prostate edema.
The success of prostatitis treatment depends on timely diagnosis, therefore if you notice problems urinating, you should see a urologist as soon as possible.