Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are often mild and treatment is not carried out in the initial stage. However, the problem can be dealt with if you take it seriously.
What is it
Many patients learn what chronic prostatitis is when they visit a doctor for a completely different reason. Meanwhile, this disease is very dangerous and is a long-term inflammatory process that occurs in the prostate gland. If left untreated, serious complications can occur: impotence, infertility, cystitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
There are several forms of the disease:
acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate gland. It is characterized by typical pain in the lower abdomen and during urination;
chronic bacterial prostatitis, which, along with the clinical picture of the acute form of the pathology, is accompanied by the presence of bacteria and an increased level of leukocytes in urine and prostate secretions;
chronic prostatitis, which is a consequence of a previous bacterial form of the disease with ineffective treatment or its absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, characterized by the absence of any symptoms, but manifested during laboratory diagnostic methods.
More than 90% of cases of the disease are chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, which is asymptomatic, which leads to delayed treatment.
Is it possible to cure?
The diagnosis itself shows that the disease has progressed in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to go to the doctor for such an urgent matter until the situation becomes critical. Meanwhile, the sooner a man seeks medical help (at the first signs of ill health), the more effective the treatment will be and the higher the chances of getting rid of the disease completely. In its advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to cure, but with proper and regular therapy, the symptoms will become less pronounced. That is why timely consultation with a doctor is so important.
Causes
The disease appears in men aged 20 to 50 and depends on a number of prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate gland in several ways:
adhesions (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenic (through the lymphatic channels);
hematogenous (through the blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that provoke the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, enterococcus, Proteus, viral, fungal, parasitic pathogens, as well as chlamydia, gonococci, gardnerella, etc.
Disruption of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This may be due to a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (drivers, office workers) and poor nutrition. As a result, congestion and swelling occur in the tissues of the prostate gland, and incomplete extraction of secretions from the organ cavity is observed. All this leads to partial or complete dysfunction of the gland.
Prolonged sexual abstinence or the practice of interrupted sexual intercourse. These actions also provoke inflammatory processes in the prostate gland.
Associated diseases. First of all, this concerns pathologies of a urological nature: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, untreated acute prostatitis. However, chronic prostatitis can also be caused by other diseases: chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
Frequent and prolonged standing in the cold, in conditions of high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is poorly expressed in the initial stage. A man, as a rule, does not experience any discomfort or does not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease if they do not interfere with leading a normal lifestyle. Over time, the general condition worsens and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
The appearance of pain in the perineum, genitals, groin. The pain can be weak, aching or quite strong during urination, defecation, after sexual intercourse and during ejaculation. Often the pain syndrome spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum and testicles.
Disturbances during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and burning in the urethra. The presence of thread-like formations in the urine is noted. During defecation, discharge from the urethra is possible, which indicates insufficient tone of the prostate gland.
Disorders of sexual function. In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there is a decrease in libido, unstable erection or its absence, pain during and after sexual intercourse, hemospermia and infertility.
Poor sleep, irritability, increased irritability, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be observed during an exacerbation of the disease and have small deviations from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but they may be constant.
Diagnosing
Diagnostic studies make it possible to refute or confirm an assumed diagnosis, determine the type of disease and how possible its cure is.
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The main diagnostic procedures are:
general analysis of urine;
analysis of prostate secretion for the presence / absence of pathogenic microflora, as well as for the determination of deviations of physiological parameters from normal values (increase in the number of leukocytes, etc. );
bacteriological culture of urine and taking a stain from the urethra;
urine sample with three glasses to determine the area of localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Ultrasound of the prostate gland;
study of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive abnormalities);
urodynamic, endoscopic examinations;
prostate specific antigen (PSA) determination.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of how to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the severity of the pathology and its type. The disease requires an integrated approach to its elimination or lasting relief of symptoms.
Drug treatment
It includes taking drugs from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which are necessarily prescribed when a bacterial form of pathology is diagnosed. However, such therapy may also be indicated for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis if a persistent positive effect is observed. Medicines from the groups of penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones are taken in full accordance with the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
Antispasmodics that help eliminate painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, pain reliever.
Alpha1-blockers are used to reduce prostate hypertonicity and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating drugs.
The medication regimen is selected individually in accordance with the characteristics of the diagnosis and intolerance to individual drugs (if present).
Non-drug treatment
In this case, the positive effect of therapy is achieved by physical impact of a different nature on the diseased area. Patients can be prescribed:
Prostate massage. It activates the complete extraction of secretions from the prostate gland, improves blood circulation and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage along with antibiotics is particularly effective for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. However, there are contraindications for its use if the patient is diagnosed with:
acute bacterial prostatitis;
concomitant diseases of the gonads (vesiculitis, cooperitis);
the presence of stones in the prostate gland;
prostate cysts;
BPH;
cancer of an organ or suspicion of it;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other disorders.
Electrophoresis. The physiotherapy procedure includes the therapeutic effect on the pathological area with a small electric current (not more than 50 μA). In this way, recovery reactions are stimulated, pain is relieved and blood circulation in the gland tissues is optimized. Electrophoresis promotes the deep penetration of antibiotics into prostate structures, thus increasing the effectiveness of their action.
Ultrasound. The method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, as it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function and suppresses pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the use of ultrasound therapy together with medications. This method allows drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the affected organ and act more effectively there.
Magnetotherapy. The physiotherapy procedure has a comprehensive restorative effect on the genitourinary system, improves metabolic processes and neurogenesis.
Magnetic laser therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats the manifestations of the disease, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Inductometry is exposure to an alternating high-frequency magnetic field.
Urethral instillations, mud therapy, therapeutic enemas, hot baths.
Physiotherapy together with drug treatment makes it possible to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect and, in most cases, completely defeat the disease in the initial stage.
Surgical intervention
It is indicated in cases where it is impossible to help the patient with other methods.
Prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate gland while preserving erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an operation to remove or remove excess glandular tissue. Prescribed for prostate adenoma or cancer.
Laser surgery. The operation involves removing the tissue of the affected organ using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "sealed", eliminating bleeding.
Drainage of prostate abscess. This operation allows you to drain pus from the gland cavity using a rubber drain inserted through the perineum or rectum by cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. Surgery involves several incisions in the prostate to relieve pressure from the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After the surgical intervention, the patient requires rehabilitation, the time interval of which, depending on the type of surgery used, varies from 2-3 days to several months.
Folk remedies
Herbal remedies are also effective drugs in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For these purposes, tinctures, decoctions, food mixtures or ointments are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
aspen bark;
hazelnut leaves and bark;
chestnut peels;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe etc.
Regular use of herbal medicines helps eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore damaged functions and has a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that you should pay attention to from the first signs to eliminate dangerous complications and cure it in time.