Chronic prostatitis: symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention

symptoms and causes of prostatitis

Prostatitis is diagnosed exclusively in men. This is one of the most common diseases among the diseases of the male reproductive system, 4 out of 5 men have already encountered symptoms of prostatitis at least once in their lifetime.

Most often, prostatitis affects men between the ages of 20 and 40 at the height of their sexual activity. Chronic prostatitis is diagnosed in every 10 men. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission and masquerades as a number of other diseases.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include the following manifestations:

  • Discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen, with periodic cramps that do not go away for a quarter or more. Pain can appear in the lower back, legs, scrotum, anus. It is especially painful to become with urination and ejaculation.
  • Penis erection worsens and sexual desire weakens. First, premature ejaculation develops, and over time, on the contrary, ejaculation practically does not occur, it becomes very difficult to achieve this.
  • Urination becomes painful and incomplete. All the time there is a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
  • A man's quality of life is deteriorating at times.

There are 2 types of chronic prostatitis: bacterial and abacterial.

Bacterial (infectious) prostatitis occurs with a constant alternation of exacerbations and sharp remissions, while infections and bacteria are found in the secret of the prostate.

In this case, nearby organs such as the urethra, bladder neck, vas deferens can also be affected and therefore the disease manifests itself in different ways. An accurate diagnosis can be made after a thorough examination.

Most often, the disease manifests itself in the following way:

  • Frequent and painful urination.
  • Burning in the urethra.
  • Premature ejaculation.
  • Small mucous secretion from the urethra.
  • Severe disturbances of sexual function.

All this greatly affects a man's ability to work and mental state, which leads to prolonged depression and neurasthenia.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is a disease in which bacteria are not found in the secretion of the prostate. This form is very difficult to diagnose, as evidenced by numerous reviews of men on various forums. It is also very difficult to find the right treatment regimen.

Important

Until now, doctors are faced with many obscure factors of the origin of this disease. This greatly complicates the treatment process.

Even ultrasound and laboratory tests of the secretion may not show the presence of an inflammatory process. According to the recommendations of the European Association of Urologists, the main signs of abacterial prostatitis are distinguished:

  • Appears in middle-aged men.
  • Prolonged pain in the pelvic area and groin.
  • Violation of the function of urination and frequent imperative impulses.
  • Erectile dysfunction and pain during ejaculation.
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis: exacerbation and remission
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis is characterized by several stages of development, which are manifested by their different signs:
  • Exudative - a man feels a stabbing pain in the groin, scrotum and pubic area.
  • Erection problems and accelerated ejaculation are observed.
  • Alternative - the patient complains of discomfort in the groin, scrotum and pubis.
  • There are frequent urges to urinate and rapid ejaculation during intercourse.
  • Proliferation - the patient observes frequent urination with weak flow, constant feeling of not emptying the bladder completely. And ejaculation becomes, on the contrary, difficult and slow.
  • Scarring changes - at this stage, the prostate tissues begin to thicken intensely. The patient complains of discomfort in the pelvic and pubic region, frequent urge to urinate with a thin stream and incomplete emptying. Erection is very weak or non-existent, ejaculation becomes almost impossible and orgasm is weak, without vivid impressions. Prostatitis progresses to the stage of chronic prostatitis of unstable remission, in which constant pain is observed and remission occurs for only a few hours.

As for the classification, the US NIH classification is usually used, which divides the disease into types: acute and chronic bacterial, chronic without signs of inflammation and congestive, in addition to histological.

Factors and causes of chronic prostatitis in men

Despite the fact that there are some microbes of chronic prostatitis in almost everyone's body, only a few get sick. How to explain the development of such a disease in a particular case?

Specialists determine the occurrence of chronic prostatitis not only by the presence of an infection in the body, but also by conditions that affect the development of the disease.

The most common causes of chronic prostatitis in men include:

  • stagnation of blood, which is contained in the prostate, caused by a sedentary lifestyle;
  • unstable sex life;
  • uncomfortable and rather narrow clothing;
  • frequent hypothermia;
  • injuries, as well as infections of various organs of the genitourinary system;
  • malnutrition;
  • constant stress;
  • drink and smoke frequently.

The diagnosis begins with a conversation with the patient, who must accurately and completely tell what concerns him. The doctor must find out why the patient developed chronic prostatitis, find out all the possible causes and symptoms, how they manifest themselves. The doctor must tell everything to the smallest detail, it will depend on how correctly the diagnosis will be made and effective and comprehensive treatment will be prescribed.

Then you need to palpate and pass the secret to bacteriological analysis, thanks to which you can determine the presence of infections and find out the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

Heads up

Palpation is performed by the urologist through the rectum. This procedure allows you to find out the size and pain of the prostate. By probing, hemorrhoids, adenoma or prostate cancer can also be detected. Ultrasound of the prostate will provide accurate data on the state of the organ.

The determination of the PSA level in the blood allows to exclude or confirm the presence of adenoma and prostate cancer.

If the urologist suspects the presence of a tumor, he will have to take pieces of tissue from the prostate for a biopsy, which will show its presence or absence.

The treatment of chronic prostatitis is a complex and time-consuming process. Today, various methods are used to treat this disease.

Antibiotic treatment. In this case, antibiotics of the macrolide and tetracycline group are used.

Only the attending physician can choose the right drug, its dosage and duration of treatment.

Medications are usually taken for 10-15 days. After that, repeated tests are carried out, according to the results of which the doctor will determine whether the patient has recovered or whether further treatment is needed.

Prostate massage is necessary so that the prostate secretion does not become stagnant and its microcirculation occurs. This is very conducive to a quick recovery.

However, massage is prohibited for acute prostatitis, hemorrhoids and rectal fissures.

Massage is usually prescribed as an additional therapy to antibiotic treatment.

Physiotherapy is prescribed to improve the condition of the prostate tissues, due to which the healing process is accelerated.

For treatment, laser therapy and ultraphoresis are used. It is also effective to use mud, enemas with mineral waters rich in hydrogen sulfide.

Phytotherapy is used as an additional stimulus to the patient's recovery and is always used in combination with other methods. Various herbal remedies are used for the treatment.

In some cases, surgical intervention may also be indicated if the urethra is very narrowed, the presence of abscesses or prostate adenoma is detected.

Important

Diagnosis and treatment must be carried out in a medical facility under the constant supervision of qualified physicians.

By contacting a doctor in time, you can get a quick cure. Starting treatment, there will be a long-term remission. You can talk about full recovery when all symptoms of the disease disappear and laboratory tests show good results.

The most popular questions from patients about chronic prostatitis

How to cure chronic prostatitis with folk remedies quickly and effectively?

Treatment can be carried out with the help of folk remedies. In folk medicine, the most popular is the use of infusion of chamomile, yarrow and sage. These microclysters relieve inflammation that occurs in the prostate very well.

To prepare this microclyster, take two tablespoons of chamomile and pour 100 g of grass. boiling water. Also, for treatment, you can use the shell of horse chestnut, which is poured with alcohol and kept for 10 days in a dark place.

An onion decoction also helps. It is necessary to cut two large onions and pour them with boiling water into a half-liter jar. The bottle is wrapped with a terry towel and left to infuse for 2 hours. So every hour you need to drink 50 grams of broth.

How to cure impotence in chronic prostatitis?

Impotence can be cured at home, through a set of measures.

It is necessary to choose suitable drugs that help fill the cavernous bodies of the penis with blood. But before that, a consultation with a urologist is necessary. Modern drugs to increase potency with the active ingredient sildenafil have a good effect.

It is necessary to adjust the diet and diet. You cannot eat fatty foods and foods that reduce testosterone. It is necessary to lean on cereals and lean meats, drink juices and green tea.

Also, don't forget about physical activity. Light walking and jogging in the fresh air is very effective in this regard. You also need to do leg swings. This helps to contract the muscles of the anus and perineum.

How long is chronic prostatitis treated and how to get rid of it for good?

Antibiotic therapy lasts from 1 to 3 months, depending on the neglect of the disease. If necessary, additional treatment with small doses of antibiotics may be prescribed. Lipophilic antibiotics cope better with this task.

To forget about this problem forever, you need to change your lifestyle, eat right, not get too cold and give your body a rest.

Why is chronic prostatitis dangerous?

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by marked exacerbations of the disease, which are replaced by remissions. When the pain subsides, it becomes easier and the man decides he can handle this problem himself rather than quickly contacting a urologist. However, the delay will not help here, as with each exacerbation the inflammation will increase.

Inflammation can affect nearby organs, leading to cystitis, pyelonephritis, and vesiculitis. As a result, a man can develop infertility.

What antibiotics to take for chronic prostatitis?

Often used a number of penicillins. Tetracycline antibiotics are often prescribed for mycoplasmas and chlamydia.

Fluoroquinolones are very effective and penetrate prostate tissues well. Macrolides accumulate well in prostate tissues and quickly remove toxins.

Is it possible to have sex with chronic prostatitis?

If the illness is caused by an infection, it is best to abstain from sex so as not to infect your partner. Although you can use a condom. It is simply necessary to have sex, because when aroused, blood rushes to the prostate and begins to contract. Also, during ejaculation, the pelvic muscles contract strongly, which is considered a good self-massage.

Prevention of chronic prostatitis in men and its characteristics

Prevention of chronic prostatitis in men involves a healthy lifestyle and daily exercise. You can constantly stretch and relax your scrotum from time to time.

With each urination, stop the flow a little, so the bladder sphincter will be somewhat hardened. These high-quality exercises will allow the blood to circulate well through the veins of the prostate, as well as improve the metabolic processes in the body.