Chronic prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland, leading to a violation of its function.
Description of chronic prostatitis
Chronic prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland, leading to a violation of its function. This disease is difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent relapses. There are two types of chronic prostatitis:
- Infectious, resulting from damage by bacteria, infections or fungi.
- Congestive, developing with stagnation of the secretion of the prostate and blood in its veins. The causes of congestive prostatitis are irregular sex life, sedentary work, tight underwear.
Chronic prostatitis is the most common urological disease in men of reproductive age.
There are several factors that affect the development of prostatitis:
- weakening of the immune system associated with constant stress, nervous overload, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, regular lack of sleep;
- hormonal disorders;
- transferred venereal diseases;
- untreated urinary tract infections;
- sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work (especially for drivers);
- work associated with prolonged exposure to vibration, such as working with a jackhammer or lathe.
The disease significantly impairs the quality of life and leads to social and psychological problems. There is also a decrease in potency and impaired reproductive function.
Chronic prostatitis without appropriate treatment leads to a number of serious complications:
- pyelonephritis and cystitis - due to infection in the urinary tract;
- vesiculitis - inflammation of the testicles and appendages;
- adenoma and prostate cancer;
- inflammatory processes in the nerves responsible for erectile function, which lead to infertility.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The development of the disease is mostly asymptomatic. Therefore, the detection of prostatitis is often associated with the diagnosis of suspected prostate cancer.
A few symptoms include:
- weak pain and discomfort in the perineum, with a projection into the rectum and sacrum, the duration of which is more than three months;
- painful and premature ejaculation;
- burning in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during defecation;
- discharge from the urethra;
- sometimes there is painful difficulty urinating and urinary retention;
- decreased potency, erection problems and lack of orgasm;
- a state of depression;
- high general fatigue.
Not all symptoms appear immediately. In general, chronic prostatitis is characterized by an undulating course of the disease, when the symptoms of the disease either increase, then weaken or completely disappear. This greatly complicates the diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
Diagnosis for suspected chronic prostatitis includes:
- questioning the patient;
- general urine and blood tests;
- three glass urine test;
- tests for the presence of genital infections;
- culture of prostate secretion to determine the sensitivity of its microflora to various antibacterial drugs;
- digital rectal examination of the prostate;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate.
Additionally, the following may be assigned:
- uroflowmetry (measurement of parameters of urine output);
- biopsy of prostate tissue;
- PCR (polymer chain reaction) analysis of smears from the urethra for the presence of chlamydia and mycoplasmas.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The method of treatment depends on several factors and is aimed primarily at eliminating the factors leading to the occurrence of chronic prostatitis:
- patient's age;
- stage of the disease;
- type of chronic prostatitis.
The effectiveness of therapy directly depends on the diagnosis of the disease at the initial stage, compliance with the diet, increase and regularity of physical activity.
The main method of therapy for chronic prostatitis is a complex drug therapy based on the results of culture of prostate secretion and urine. The duration of the course of treatment should be at least 4 weeks, with continuation in case of positive dynamics until the infection is completely eliminated.
Medicines used to treat chronic prostatitis are divided into the following groups:
- antibiotics and antibacterial drugs;
- alpha-blockers (drugs that cause vasodilation and channels and regulate metabolism in the prostate gland);
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- immunostimulants;
- antidepressants;
- vitamin complexes;
- plant extracts;
- analgesics;
- drugs to improve microcirculation and reduce blood clotting.
An important place in the treatment of chronic prostatitis is occupied by prostate massage, which improves blood and lymph circulation, eliminates congestion, and increases the patency of the prostate ducts.
In recent years, the complex of therapeutic measures has been expanded by various methods of physiotherapy:
- UHF therapy.
- Laser therapy (improves microcirculation and eliminates stagnant processes in the prostate gland).
- Rectal electrophoresis.
- Microwave hyperthermia.
Spa treatment is also shown, especially mud therapy and thermal baths.
Operative methods of treatment are used only at the last stage of the disease - prostate sclerosis. In this case, a transurethral resection of the bladder neck, prostate gland and seminal tubercle is performed.
Due to the lack of universal approaches to the treatment of chronic prostatitis, the main task of therapy is to eliminate the source of infection, normalize the immune background and restore normal prostate function.
Prevention of chronic prostatitis focuses on eliminating the factors that lead to the development of the disease.
The risk of chronic prostatitis is reduced if the following conditions are met:
- regular physical activity;
- healthy sleep pattern;
- complete nutrition;
- regular sex life.