Prostatitis is one of the most common diseases of the male genital area. The symptoms of prostatitis in men and their treatment cannot be determined and prescribed independently.
If a man has the first signs of prostatitis, he should immediately consult a doctor. Even a slight malaise, indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system, can have serious complications.
The shape of the prostate resembles a chestnut. The transverse length of the prostate in men is 4 cm, longitudinal - 3 cm, thickness - 2 cm. The organ consists of glandular tissue. In the upper part it is connected to the bladder, and the vas deferens depart from the lower part.
functions of the prostate
The prostate, or prostate gland, performs a very important function: it produces seminal fluid, which mixes with spermatozoa to form semen. The organ acts as a valve during erection, preventing urine from leaking out during intercourse.
Due to the content of immunoglobulins A and B in the prostate and lysozyme (an antibacterial enzyme), the infection cannot penetrate the upper urinary tract.
The functioning of the testicles depends on the prostate, therefore, with diseases of this organ, the man's sexual power weakens and sperm production is disrupted, which can lead to infertility.
Why men develop prostatitis
Prostatitis is a common condition in men. People living in cold regions with high humidity are more prone to it. Prostatitis occurs as a result of hypothermia of the body, since cold is a predisposing factor to stagnation of fluid secretion, and this leads to the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
Prostatitis develops after 30 years. With weak immunity, he can take a chronic course without pronounced symptoms, so the man does not notice the signs of the disease and does not go to the doctor, but lives with this disease for many years. Make an appointment with a doctor only after a sharp deterioration in health. This happens around the age of 45-50, when a man is diagnosed with prostate adenoma and treatment becomes more complicated.
The disease is a benign tumor of the prostate, which worsens a man's quality of life and gradually makes intimacy impossible. Treatment of the adenoma is only surgical. After its removal, the problem disappears, but in the postoperative period it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's prescriptions, in this case the rehabilitation process is painless, and the person returns to a full life. It is necessary to be careful to avoid hypothermia, and the symptoms of prostatitis will not return.
What are the symptoms of prostatitis
Prostatitis does not manifest itself immediately and gradually develops in the body. Symptoms of the disease in men are manifested by pain in the lower abdomen, in the suprapubic area and in the perineum.
These sensations are intensified after intercourse. Urination becomes intermittent, painful, and there may be a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. The pathological condition is particularly noticeable at night, and it leads to incorrect, painful trips to the toilet. Pain also occurs during ejaculation. Sexual intercourse becomes painful.
Prostatitis has an acute and a chronic course. During the acute period, the symptoms of the disease worsen, the patient's state of health deteriorates sharply. The first signs of prostatitis in men in the acute phase of the course are as follows:
- the temperature is rising;
- there is weakness and pain in the body;
- chills occur.
Studies are conducted, laboratory tests are carried out, urine, semen and blood are examined. With acute bacterial prostatitis, the indicators are clearly expressed. In the chronic course of the disease in a man, increased irritability, anxiety, short temper, etc. are more pronounced. In order to correctly diagnose the disease, an examination is necessary.
Bacterial prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate that drastically reduces the patient's quality of life and can have irreversible consequences in the male genital organs.
Prostatitis can be infectious or congestive (non-infectious). Infectious prostatitis occurs when an infection invades the tissues of the prostate. Microbes, viruses, fungi and bacteria can enter through the genital tract. The disease can develop as a result of chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, or kidney disease.
Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms live in the human body, which can be activated with a weakened immune system or hypothermia. These are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococci, etc. Having penetrated the prostate, they cause an acute inflammatory process.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitis develops due to poor blood flow in the pelvis. The cause can be a sedentary lifestyle, pelvic injuries, hormonal disorders, prolonged sexual abstinence or an overly active sex life. The prostate is affected by smoking and alcohol.
How to treat prostatitis
With infectious prostatitis, antibiotic therapy is used. After identifying the type of pathogen, a suitable combination of antibiotics is prescribed, after which health improves in a short time.
The preparations are selected only after laboratory analysis and determination of the type of pathogen.
If the disease is bacterial in nature and there are living microorganisms, then without individually selected antibiotics, treatment will be ineffective.
With prostatitis, choosing the right drug is very important. There are substances that cannot penetrate the prostate tissue and treatment with them is useless. And there are a number of antibiotics that have a weak effect. Only a doctor can choose the tactics of treatment.
With the acute form of prostatitis, nonsteroidal drugs are prescribed.
A strong dose of an antibiotic may be needed in the acute phase of the disease, when milder symptoms can be used.
In the chronic stage of the disease, alpha-blockers are prescribed. The patient may be prescribed diuretics.
In the presence of infectious flora, it can penetrate into the bladder, which leads to the development of acute cystitis. Your doctor may prescribe diuretics and a drinking regimen to actively empty your bladder.
With prostatitis, the prostate is swollen, and to relieve swelling, a man is prescribed antiandrogens. These drugs temporarily reduce secretions and block blood flow. Cold enemas may be prescribed. They help relieve swelling in prostatitis, inflammation and reduce blood flow. Many doctors are reluctant to use cold when being treated with antibiotics because they realize that the drugs, along with the delay in blood flow, do not reach the prostate tissue and there is no suitable treatment.
If after the course of treatment there is no clinical response to antibiotics, this should serve as a reason for suspecting a prostate abscess. To eliminate such a pathology, it is necessary to perform surgical intervention, otherwise the consequences can be unpredictable.
Patients with prostatitis are often prescribed prostate massage, which is performed through the anus. But in the acute period of the disease, when there is inflammation, the gland swells and the infection progresses, massage is categorically contraindicated, since bacteria can easily spread in the urine and blood, which can lead to sepsis with serious consequences and death.
Biopsy in severe prostatitis is not performed. The data obtained on the basis of the analysis of blood, urine, swabs and ultrasound are enough to make the correct diagnosis and select drugs to treat and alleviate the patient's condition.
If there are any signs and symptoms of prostatitis, it is urgent to contact a urologist or andrologist. He will select which drugs are suitable for the patient in order to effectively treat the pathology. In no case should you self-medicate.