Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) is a very painful disease. But as a rule, prostatitis is not limited to pain, but causes even more serious symptoms. Which? How long does prostate inflammation usually last? And what helps?
What is Prostatitis?
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate (prostate gland). Inflammation of the prostate can, for example, be caused by bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue via the urinary tract. Depending on whether bacteria are the cause of prostate inflammation or not, the following forms of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacterial;
- abacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four centimeter gland located below the bladder in men. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces a secretion that mixes with the sperm during ejaculation. This secretion ensures the mobility of the sperm and supports them on their way to the female egg.
In men, inflammation of the bladder or urethra (urethra) can cause inflammation of the prostate. The inflammation can be triggered by bacteria that migrate from the bladder or urethra to the prostate. In this case we speak of acute prostatitis. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.
In around 5 out of 100 patients, bacteria remain in the prostate despite treatment, so the inflammation remains unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Bacteria are not always the cause of prostate inflammation
In addition to bacteria, there are other factors that can cause prostate inflammation, such as: B. Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), psychological problems, stress and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Since in this case prostatitis occursnot due to bacteria, his name isabacterial prostatitis.
Sometimes abacterial prostatitis is called one of the forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). However, this pain syndrome can also develop without inflammation of the prostate. In addition to inflammatory, there are also non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note:In non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to those of prostatitis, but there are neither bacteria nor signs of inflammation.
However, in the official classificationProstatitisThe US National Institutes of Health lists both inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of the syndromechronicPain in the pelvic area.
According to many, this is an introductiondoctorsmisleading and, in the worst case, can lead to improper handling. Unlike inflammation of the prostate, non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of Prostatitis
There are a number of factors that contribute to prostate inflammation. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- Urogenital operations;
- unprotected anal sex.
Under these and other circumstances, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation of the prostate. If bacteria get into the prostate, bacterial prostatitis can occur.
Bacterial prostatitis can have a variety of causes. Let's take a closer look at the causes of both types of prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis
Most bacterial prostatitis is caused by intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli or enterococci. If they enter the urinary tract via the penis opening, an infection of the urethra or bladder first occurs, then the pathogens penetrate the prostate and cause inflammation of the prostate.
Men who get prostatitis in the hospital often have Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They enter the urinary tract after catheterization of the bladder.
In rare cases, prostate inflammation occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the pathogens are mainly chlamydia.
Abbacterial prostatitis
In nonbacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome), any bacteria can be the cause. However, after testing, leukocytes (white blood cells that protect the body) were found in the prostate and semen. This suggests that the body is fighting inflammation.
What causes this inflammation is not fully understood and studied by experts. This is probably the result of the combined effect of various factors. The following factors can play a role:
- impaired immune response;
- Central nervous system disorders that affect the nerves and muscles of the genitourinary system and prevent a person from emptying their bladder as usual;
- psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Some experts suspect that hidden infections may be the cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, this assumption is controversial.
Typical symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are:
- frequent urination;
- burning when urinating (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during bowel movements;
- nausea, vomiting;
- Fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and problems with urination. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and only appear again after some time. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a recurrent course with subsidence and recurrence of inflammation. It can take many months.
Another characteristic sign of chronic inflammation of the prostate is erectile dysfunction.
Bacterial inflammation of the prostate that is not caused by bacteria causes essentially similar symptoms to chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate
In rare cases, the doctor may notice an increased number of white blood cells in the ejaculate or prostatic secretion, but the person may not experience pain or other symptoms of prostatic inflammation.
Such cases are considered asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate and are usually discovered accidentally during cancer or infertility screening.
diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose acute bacterial prostatitis by asking the patient about their symptoms and examining the prostate. First, the doctor feels the prostate with his finger. If warmth and swelling are felt in the prostate area during palpation and the patient feels pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also perform a urine test and draw blood from the patient to examine the amount of inflammatory cells.
Chronic bacterial inflammation of the prostate cannot be diagnosed by palpation alone. For example, if the patient is between two attacks of inflammation, the doctor will not be able to detect any severe swelling when palpated. Therefore, blood and urine tests are required to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
A urine sample is not enough to detect chronic prostatitis. Because if the urine contains white blood cells and bacteria, this can also indicate a urinary tract infection. To find out whether inflammation is affecting the prostate, your doctor will need to test several urine samples.
Treatment of prostatitis
Which treatment helps with prostate inflammation depends on the cause: If the inflammation was caused by bacteria, the therapy differs from the treatment of nonbacterial prostatitis. However, in both cases the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory medications (so-called anti-inflammatory drugs).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
If there is bacterial inflammation of the prostate, antibiotics help eliminate the symptoms.
- In case of mild acute prostatitis, the doctor must prescribe antibiotics from the group of fluoroquinolones, the patient must take them for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor can give the patient broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- If the inflammation is chronic, the patient usually takes a fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of abacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control nonbacterial inflammation of the prostate with a combination of medications. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, they can also prescribe so-calledAlpha-1 receptor blockers. They relax the prostate and bladder muscles and thus promote bladder emptying.
Depending on your doctor's suspicions about the cause of the inflammation, further action may be necessary. For example, it was suspected that psychological problems could also play a role in the development of nonbacterial prostatitis. In this case, the doctor may recommend psychotherapy.
In addition, thermal treatments such as baths can often be used to relieve the symptoms.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for prostatitis serve as an alternative to drug therapy. Used for bacterial prostatitis. Before using folk remedies, consult your doctor.
Fireweed
Fireweed has proven to be an excellent remedy for prostate diseases.
Fireweed is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has small, mostly white flowers, but it also comes in various shades of red.
Fireweed seeds are small, there is a fluff on their surface, with which they spread.
There are about 200 species of fireweed, the plant is often considered a weed and can be very poisonous, however positive effects have only been demonstrated with fireweed. Flowers and roots are used. The content of biologically active substances (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on prostate activity.
Uses of Fireweed:
Add 1 heaped teaspoon of herbs to 1/4 liter of water, bring to the boil and let steep briefly (15 minutes). You should drink it cool in sips (up to 2 cups) throughout the day.
This medicinal plant is used for various urological diseases, especially for:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- in kidney diseases;
- in bladder diseases;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
Fireweed is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, as a rule, depending on the nature of the problems, it is combined with other herbs, most often with cranberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are probably the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is recommended to drink 3 cups of green tea daily.
This drink promotes frequent urination, thereby helping to cleanse the entire body. In addition, green tea is directly involved in detoxifying the body.
Advice!Men are recommended to urinate while sitting. In this way, complete emptying of the bladder is achieved. The sitting position completely relieves the strain on the entire pelvic muscles, meaning that no residual urine remains in the bladder, where pathogenic bacteria would otherwise quickly multiply.
nettle
2 handfuls of freshly picked nettle leaves - approx. 15 cm from the top of the plant - are poured with 300 ml of drinking water and left to steep overnight (approx. 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be slightly warmed and drunk.
cranberry
Cranberry is one of the most famous fighters against prostatitis. Home treatment with cranberries involves consuming it in dried, fresh or canned form. In the latter case, however, you should watch out for added sugar.
Cranberry juices are also available commercially. Again, you should be careful and read the label carefully to make sure the juice does not contain any added juices from other fruits or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has healing properties.
Add dried cranberries to porridge or oatmeal.
Who cranberries are not suitable for:
Cranberries are contraindicated for people taking blood thinning medications. Cranberry may reduce the antiplatelet effect of the drug, which may cause bleeding.
Ginger
When treating prostatitis, you can pay attention to another useful product - ginger root. Ginger is a promising product for treating this disease. It has strong anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant properties, interrupts the reproductive cycle of cancer cells (which is especially important in the treatment of prostate cancer) and promotes apoptosis. In addition, ginger is not toxic to other fast-growing cells.
It should be taken after meals, adding the root to tea (preferably green).
Pumpkin seeds
As practice shows, the most effective method of treating prostatitis is to use fresh instead of dried pumpkin seeds.
Preparation:Pumpkin seeds should be crushed. The resulting mass is mixed with honey in equal proportions and heated slightly. Then you need to leave it in the refrigerator for several hours and then form balls the size of a walnut.
The balls are taken 1-2 times daily before meals.
For prevention, you can eat 4-5 pumpkin seeds daily. They contain zinc, selenium and other biochemical substances that reduce inflammation in the body, including the prostate, and have a positive effect on the production of the male hormone testosterone.
Chestnuts
Chestnuts are also effective and have no side effects, which is very important for older people.
Peel the chestnuts, crush the core into small pieces, pour boiling water over them and let them steep for an hour.
The decoction should be taken three times a day before meals, 30 drops each.
Regular sex
Regular sex, like masturbation, cleanses the prostate, promotes blood circulation and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: Duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually disappear within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms should subside significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts several months and usually occurs in episodes, between which the patient experiences little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Can prostatitis be prevented?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent the spread of germs to the prostate and thus prevent prostate inflammation. Using condoms can also help prevent prostate inflammation caused by certain sexually transmitted diseases.