Chronic prostatitis: symptoms of the disease, prevention and treatment

Chronic prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland that affects men of all ages. In most cases, it occurs due to exposure of the prostate to sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic microflora. In itself, inflammation of the gland is not serious, but in the absence of effective treatment, it can lead to problems with urination, pain, male infertility and impotence. Also, the development of chronic prostatitis very often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of regular sexual activity.

What role does the prostate play in the body?

The prostate, shaped like a chestnut, is located under the bladder. It prevents the penetration of semen and also produces prostate secretion, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common cause of chronic inflammation of the prostate is sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example trichomonads. Also, the development of such prostatitis contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. But prostatitis itself is not so bad as the fact that this disease is a trigger for the occurrence of more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

Also among the causes of the onset of the disease are:

• frequent hypothermia;
• low immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• the presence of a person's bad habits;
• injuries to the pelvic organs;
• sedentary lifestyle.

The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:

1. infections.They enter the body in various ways - through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in one's own body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostateor stagnation of their secret, which occurs in the following cases:
   • sexual abstinence for a long time;
   • often interrupted intercourse or unrealized arousal;
   • faulty ejaculation.

Stress and alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in the male body. Exacerbation is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, errors in nutrition (too spicy food, alcohol).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms:

• Feeling of discomfort or pain in the groin and suprapubic areas, perineum, scrotum, rectum, in the lumbosacral region;
• frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constantly or when urinating);
• intermittent or sluggish stream of urine;
• Shortening the duration of sexual intercourse, worsening erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic/permanent lack of morning erection (spontaneous);
• drawing pain in the glans after ejaculation, which disappears on its own within half an hour.

Many men do not pay attention to the signs of chronic prostatitis, believing that the disease will pass on its own. However, it progresses, causing various complications: pyelonephritis, cystitis, vesiculitis. Over time, against the background of inflammation of the prostate, infertility and impotence develop.

diagnosis of the disease

Laboratory and instrumental studies are required for an accurate diagnosis. It contains:

• general urinalysis,
• general blood analysis,
• examination of prostate secretion,
• bacteriological examination of the prostate secretion to identify the microflora with determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs,
• blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate,
• digital examination of the prostate.

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

This disease causes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate a man's life:

• Disorders when urinating: frequent urination during the day and at night, poor stream of urine, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, collulitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercle.
• Abscess of the gland is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgical intervention.
• Sclerosis of the prostate - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and subsequently prostate stones.
• impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment of this disease should be carried out only under constant medical supervision. One of the best and most effective modern drugs for the treatment of chronic prostatitis is an extract of prostate tissue. Its use gives a quick result and the elimination of symptoms.

Since the therapy is said to be complex, other medications must also be used:

• antibacterial,
• alpha blockers,
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There is no universal medicine. Therefore, doctors can recommend antibacterial drugs of different groups. Cephalosporins, proprietary penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others. All of them affect the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection.

Alpha blockers - drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostatic urethra and bladder neck, facilitate the outflow of urine by relieving spasms. In fact, they do not heal, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.

Among the anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend both reducing the inflammatory process and relieving pain.

a drug	advantages	Disadvantages	Recommendations for use
fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into the prostate tissue. Good bioavailability. Equivalence of oral and parenteral pharmacokinetics. Good effect against typical and atypical pathogens.	cross allergy. phototoxicity. Influence on the central nervous system.	Recommended for use.
diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into the prostate tissue. No dose selection required. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteria.	second-line drugs.
macrolides	Moderate activity against gram-positive bacteria. Activity against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into the prostate tissue. Low toxicity.	Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria.	Used for certain pathogens.
tetracyclines	Good effect against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	Used for certain pathogens.

An effective remedy for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base there are drugs from the extract of bovine prostate tissue. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in the treatment of both acute and chronic forms of the disease. This medication is available in the form of suppositories (rectal suppositories) and ampoules (injections). The action of the drug is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels and improving blood circulation at the micro level.

The effect of using the drug in chronic prostatitis:

• Elimination of dysuric disorders and normalization of urination.
• Improvement of the functional state of the prostate.
• Reducing congestion, reducing prostate edema.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalization of full blood flow in the pelvic area, reducing the likelihood of blood clots in the blood vessels.
• Decrease in the concentration of leukocytes infiltrating the prostate tissue.

Methods of treating chronic prostatitis

In most cases, a chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. However, it should be remembered that therapy will bring a quick positive result only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that causes the disease, otherwise a relapse is likely. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, lack of exercise and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Cure:

• prostate massageperformed manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and the absorption of drugs into tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasonic heating and rinsing with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
• balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated using balneotherapeutic methods, that is, with the help of mineral water. To treat patients with prostatitis, as a rule, low-mineralized water is prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• diet therapy.Already at the first signs of prostatitis, you should start adhering to a special diet. First of all, you should refrain from alcoholic beverages, since ethyl alcohol irritates the prostate ducts, increases pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat in order to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and pastries are prohibited.

Diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (it is found in seafood and pumpkin seeds). It is recommended to eat as many vegetables as possible (except for those that contribute to gas formation - for example, cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and dried fruits.

Precautions

Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads the right lifestyle: follows the diet, plays sports and so on. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by the rejection of bad habits and casual sex.

There are primary, aimed at preventing the occurrence of the disease, prevention and secondary, whose task is to prevent the recurrence (exacerbation) of an existing chronic prostatitis.

primary preventionit comes down to regular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, compliance with an exercise regimen, timely and complete treatment of infectious (purulent) diseases of the body and timely sanitation of the oral cavity.

secondary preventionprovides for regular examination by a urologist and preventive treatment - multivitamins, strengthening drugs, sports.

howprophylactic drugProstate diseases can be used suppositories.