The problem of chronic prostatitis not only affects older men, but also young people who have just started having sex. Inflammation of the prostate gland in the first months may manifest itself as a slight burning sensation and itching, which the patient does not care about. But when inflammation becomes part of everyday life, it is no longer possible to ignore it. Exhausting pain, fatigue, decrease in sexual activity are chronic companions of prostatitis.
What is chronic prostatitis?
Prostatitis is one of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system in middle-aged and elderly men. Treatment of chronic prostatitis consists of minimizing symptoms and achieving a state where prostatitis does not affect reproductive function.
Prostatitis is characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland: an important organ of the reproductive system located at the top of the beginning of the urethra. When healthy, the prostate is responsible for producing secretions that keep sperm alive and create an environment for them to survive until ejaculation. In chronic prostatitis, this function is affected in an average of 70% of cases, which is why sperm for the most part become sluggish and non-viable. The chances of successful fertilization are significantly decreased even without other significant problems with the reproductive system. Complex treatment is required.
Chronic prostatitis develops in three forms:
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis. The painful symptoms either disappear completely or return with a vengeance. Even at its peak, inflammation does not reach the intensity of acute prostatitis. Prostate irritation is caused by a third party factor - pathogenic bacteria. Such prostatitis can disappear without comprehensive diagnosis and treatment: for example, if a man has a cold or a seasonal illness at the same time as inflammation. Antibiotics will block the activity of bacterial colonies, and the disease will recede. But when the immune system fails, chronic prostatitis will return and you will need to undergo treatment.
- Chronic abacterial prostatitis.According to research, chronic abacterial prostatitis remains one of the most common forms in men under the age of 50. The disease often begins with bacterial invasion: bacteria develop activity against the background of weak and defeated immunity. The result is a depletion of the body's resources, which is why inflammation returns in the future without the participation of bacteria. Chronic abacterial prostatitis is characterized by a long phase with short and barely noticeable remissions. A man with abacterial prostatitis may be convinced that the disease is always getting worse. The burning sensation is brighter than with the bacterial form - due to the fact that the disease does not allow you to relax and rest from the pain. Treatment is minimally invasive. Non-bacterial advanced chronic prostatitis is treated in the surgeon's office.
- Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis.This form of prostatitis does not cause suffering to a man, but is dangerous as a hidden threat. Asymptomatic prostatitis occurs without obvious symptoms. Burning in the prostate gland, itching, discharge of moisture and other signs of inflammation do not appear. At the same time, the inflammatory process affects reproductive function, which is why a man can consider himself infertile. Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis can only be detected using laboratory diagnostics. The test will show increased bacterial activity, which is associated with the development of prostatitis in men. In combination with the release of white blood cells during urination, this will allow the diagnosis. Please note: a preventive examination by a urologist once a year may not be enough. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis also has a phase of activity, so it is difficult to diagnose.
- Chronic granulomatous prostatitis.The rarest form of this disease, it develops as a side effect of drug treatment for another disease or long-term radiation. The inflammatory process in this case is only a secondary symptom. Painful sensations are associated with the gradual destruction of prostate tissue, which is replaced by connective tissue. Degradation of the organ leads to a weakening of the prostate function until it stops completely. If left untreated, the process becomes irreversible.
Although chronic prostatitis is qualitatively different from the acute form of the disease, with complications it can turn into an acute phase, dangerous for the reproductive system. Sharp pain with a burning sensation in the prostate, high temperature, decreased immunity are signs that the treatment of chronic prostatitis should be postponed. Call an ambulance or go to the hospital. First you need to stop the acute inflammatory process.
Cause
The impetus for the development of chronic prostatitis is usually a combination of factors, including body conditions, environment and heredity. If acute prostatitis can be prevented, then the development of chronic prostatitis is not so easy. Men who are naturally predisposed to prostate disease will experience exacerbations of the disease in situations that do not affect men with better heredity.
If you want to reduce the risk of chronic prostatitis, pay more attention to your health. Prostatitis is a disease that occurs against the background of body weakness. Among the common causes of chronic prostatitis:
- Sexually transmitted infections.They directly affect the prostate gland or weaken the immune system enough that the slightest irritation causes an inflammatory process. The infection is spread sexually through unprotected contact. Carriers may not know that they are infected: some infections only appear in men, although they are carried by women, and vice versa. The best preventative measure is clean contraception. Urologists recommend using condoms even during non-penetrating sexual intercourse - for example, during prostate stimulation.
- Passive lifestyle.Lack of physical activity causes chronic blood circulation problems not only in the prostate, but in the entire pelvic area. If you have to spend most of the day sitting at your desk, don't forget to get up and stretch at least once every 1-2 hours. Light exercise, walking around the office or stretching will restore normal blood circulation. On weekends, you can balance the workload of the work week with walking or sports activities.
- Incomplete sexual intercourse, prolonged artificial stimulation or prolonged abstinence. The male reproductive system requires regular discharge. This is how sperm are renewed, and thanks to this, all organs are in permanent readiness for the reproductive process. What happens if a man often delays or forbids himself from orgasm? The body collects more sperm and byproducts than it needs. The prostate gland also suffers: it produces unnecessary secretions that have nowhere to direct. If the condition recurs continuously, the result may be chronic prostatitis.
- Common hypothermia.It is believed that it is beneficial for men to freeze thoroughly - it strengthens the body. In fact, by becoming hypothermic while walking, riding a motorcycle or skiing, a man burdens the immune system. It is more difficult for the body to cope with the activity of bacteria, and the weakness of the prostate increases many times. Under such conditions, it is easy to become a carrier of bacterial prostatitis, which will then turn into a non-bacterial or asymptomatic form.
- Chronic lack of sleep, depression, stress.Psychological factors combined with fatigue weaken the immune system and open the body to a whole host of chronic diseases. Men who do not get enough rest at night or are stressed after work are 2-3 times more likely to get prostatitis than men who sleep 8-10 hours a day and rest well with their families. At the first manifestation of this disease, it is important not to blame yourself and not to give in to gloomy thoughts: they will only worsen the situation. Go to the doctor immediately - and you will get rid of, if not the disease itself, then unpleasant symptoms.
- Disruption of hormonal activity.In chronic prostatitis, the function of the prostate gland is affected. Hormones are responsible for regulating the prostate and coordinating secretions with the function of the reproductive system. Even the slightest hormonal imbalance can cause inflammation. In this case, the treatment of chronic prostatitis should be supplemented with hormone therapy.
- Ignoring the rules of personal hygiene.Be careful: once is enough for the bacteria to settle on the tissue. You may not realize the consequences of not following the rules of self-care for years, while the immune system protects the body from bacterial invasion. But one deterioration against the background of seasonal diseases is enough for the problem of chronic prostatitis to enter a man's life for several months.
The development of chronic prostatitis is often accompanied by a weak immune system, poor diet, and lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. A man who leads a healthy lifestyle is less likely to develop chronic prostatitis, even with a high genetic predisposition.
How to treat chronic prostatitis in men and what to do
If you suspect the development of chronic prostatitis, you must schedule a comprehensive examination with a urologist. In some cases, the doctor makes a diagnosis at the first visit, based on the nature of the disease and the patient's symptoms. If prostatitis has not shown itself before, the urologist will prescribe diagnostic procedures: ultrasound examination of the prostate, urodynamic examination. Laboratory tests include analysis of urine, ejaculate, urethral swabs and prostate secretions.
After clarifying the diagnosis, the doctor will formulate a course of treatment. There is no single correct method to treat chronic prostatitis. The method is selected according to the type of chronic prostatitis, medical history and personal characteristics of the course of the disease.
Drug treatment
Prescribed in most cases for treatment at home; if prostatitis is accompanied by acute exacerbation, the man can be hospitalized. For the bacterial form of prostatitis, antibiotics are selected according to the group of bacteria - identified during laboratory tests. Penicillins and fluoroquinolones remain the most popular antibacterial drugs in the treatment of chronic prostatitis with bacterial properties.
For any form of chronic prostatitis, drugs from the alpha blocker group are prescribed. They relieve swelling, relieve the feeling of pressure and unpleasant itching caused by prostatitis. These drugs also have a strong analgesic effect: a man stops experiencing pain and burning, physical activity and night rest are normalized. Prostatitis occurs without pain or physical fatigue.
When chronic prostatitis enters an acute form, strong non-steroidal drugs are prescribed. They act directly on the inflammatory process and relieve symptoms, but do not treat the cause of the disease.
Surgical method
In recent years, doctors have been registering men with signs of chronic prostatitis decreasing in the surgeon's office. The reason is the mixed effect of surgical manipulation and the long recovery period. The prostatitis stopped, but the patient experienced side effects, including impotence. At the same time, there is a form of chronic prostatitis in which surgical intervention is absolutely necessary.
Resection of the prostate gland using the transurethral method (TUR) is the removal of part or all of the prostate tissue to relieve pressure on the urinary system. With partial resection, the prostate retains all functions, while the inflammatory process disappears irreversibly and prostatitis does not return. The operation is performed without opening, regardless of the degree of inflammation. The resectoscope is directed to the inflamed organ without affecting other pelvic organs.
Adenomectomy is the "open" removal of the gland for prostatitis, also known as prostatectomy. The advanced inflammatory process leads to the fact that it becomes impossible to get to the inflamed gland without opening it. In this case, conventional surgical instruments are used to completely remove the prostate. This is an extreme measure, prescribed only when other treatment methods are impossible and there is danger to the body. After a long recovery period, the man returned to a normal lifestyle with unlimited physical activity. Adenomectomy always ends in complete impotence. Prostatitis never recurs.
Minimally invasive treatment methods
In modern medicine, there are many ways to treat chronic prostatitis that do not require surgical intervention. The new technique has proven to be more effective than traditional surgery, so it is used everywhere. Official medicine recognizes the following treatment methods:
- Exposure to ultrasonic waves.Prostatitis only affects the prostate gland, so UV treatment focuses the radiation on this organ. Regular procedures reduce symptoms, relieve swelling and pain. This process is not accompanied by pain, does not cause irritation and is not harmful to the genitourinary system.
- Thermal treatment.Prostatitis and its manifestations can be reduced to "no" with microwave thermotherapy. High temperatures are applied directly to the prostate, causing it to shrink in size. This method is not used if prostatitis has entered the acute phase: in this case, heating worsens the situation.
- Cryodestruction.Painless partial removal of inflamed glandular tissue with liquid nitrogen with a minimal recovery period. Chronic prostatitis disappears completely if antibacterial treatment is carried out in parallel with strengthening the immune system. Reproductive function is not affected, prostatitis has a minimal chance of returning.
- Inductotherapy.Complex treatment with lasers and magnetic fields normalizes blood circulation, triggers regeneration processes and relieves pain due to inflammation. The technique in the case of prostatitis has an additional effect: inductotherapy increases the effect of the drug by one and a half to two times, but without the drug it gives short-term results.
- Laser processing.If chronic prostatitis is accompanied by a long exacerbation phase, laser therapy is prescribed. The laser evaporates excess moisture, stopping the growing area of tissue damage by prostatitis. The treatment has a stimulating effect: body cells are activated, natural defenses are developed and tissue regeneration occurs.
One of the new methods is the mechanical expansion of the urethral wall. This method does not treat chronic prostatitis, but contributes to the almost complete disappearance of its symptoms. Reducing the contact area promotes faster healing and prevents the spread of lesions. To increase the space between the walls of the urethra, a catheter with an expanding balloon (dilatation balloon) or a cylindrical polymer frame (stent) is inserted. Methods can be combined to achieve the desired result. This technique is not used if prostatitis has reached an acute stage.
How to treat
If you suspect prostatitis, you should see a doctor first. Only on the basis of an examination, a urologist will be able to confirm the chronic nature of the disease and prescribe treatment. Signs of inflammation of the prostate gland are similar to other diseases of the pelvic organs, so you should not self-medicate.
After diagnosis, follow your doctor's recommendations and undergo regular examinations with a urologist. Prostatitis can be treated with care and patience: do not neglect hygiene procedures during the acute phase of the disease, take medication by the hour, and the disease will recede.
If prostatitis causes severe suffering, ask your doctor to give you a referral for prostate massage or recommend a private clinic that provides this service. Massage enhances the effect of the treatment. After the first session, you will notice that prostatitis feels less acute: massage movements relax the pelvic organs, bring relief, and trigger the natural tissue recovery process. The chronic nature of prostatitis will be significantly reduced: signs of inflammation will bother you more often.
Men suffering from prostatitis should abandon traditional medicine for the entire treatment. Decoctions, poultices, compresses and other folk remedies do not treat prostatitis in certain forms. They can relieve discomfort or worsen the inflammatory process overnight.
The same goes for self-prescription drugs. Prostatitis is treated with drugs selected after a comprehensive laboratory test. Random medicine will not give the desired effect, although it has helped hundreds of thousands of men with prostatitis - simply because you are in a different situation. The dosage, duration and even the method of using the drug for chronic prostatitis are selected individually. If you are offered to buy a drug that can treat prostatitis of any kind, regardless of the cause, you should know: this is fake. Follow your doctor's recommendations and stay healthy!