Chronic prostatitis: symptoms and causes

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland and causes its dysfunction.

Description of chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland and causes its dysfunction.Treatment of this disease is difficult and is characterized by frequent relapses.There are two types of chronic prostatitis:

1. Contagious caused by damage by bacteria, infections, or fungi.
2. Stagnation develops due to stagnation of prostate secretion and blood in its vessels.Causes of congestive prostatitis are irregular sex life, sedentary work and tight underwear.

Chronic prostatitis is the most common urological disease in men of reproductive age.

There are several factors that affect the development of prostatitis:

• weakened immunity associated with constant stress, nervous stress, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, lack of regular sleep;
• hormonal disorders;
• past venereal diseases;
• untreated urinary tract infections;
• sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work (especially for drivers);
• work involving prolonged exposure to vibration, for example, working with a hammer or lathe.

The disease significantly worsens the quality of life, causes social and psychological problems.There is also a decrease in potency and a violation of reproductive function.

Without proper treatment, chronic prostatitis causes a number of serious complications:

• pyelonephritis and cystitis - due to infection in the urinary tract;
• vesiculitis - inflammation of the testicles and appendages;
• adenoma and prostate cancer;
• inflammatory processes in the nerves responsible for erectile function, causing infertility.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The development of the disease is mostly asymptomatic.Therefore, the detection of prostatitis is often associated with the diagnosis of suspected prostate cancer.

A few symptoms include:

• mild pain and discomfort in the perineal area with projection to the rectum and sacrum lasting more than three months;
• painful and premature ejaculation;
• burning in the perineum and urethra;
• discomfort during bowel movements;
• discharge from the urethra;
• sometimes there is painful difficulty urinating and urinary retention;
• decreased potency, problems with erection and lack of orgasm;
• depressed state;
• high general fatigue.

Not all symptoms are immediately visible.In general, chronic prostatitis is characterized by a fluctuating course of the disease, when the symptoms of the disease either intensify, weaken or completely disappear.This significantly complicates diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis

Diagnosis of suspected chronic prostatitis includes:

• patient survey;
• general urine and blood tests;
• three bottles of urine test;
• tests for the presence of sexually transmitted infections;
• culture of prostate secretion to determine the sensitivity of its microflora to various antibacterial drugs;
• digital rectal examination of the prostate;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland.

In addition, the following can be specified:

• uroflowmetry (measurement of urine output parameters);
• biopsy of prostate tissue;
• PCR (polymer chain reaction) analysis of urethral swabs for the presence of chlamydia and mycoplasma.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

The method of treatment depends on several factors and is primarily aimed at eliminating the factors that cause chronic prostatitis:

• age of the patient;
• the stage of the disease;
• type of chronic prostatitis.

The effectiveness of the therapy directly depends on the diagnosis of the disease at the initial stage, compliance with the diet, increased and regular physical activity.

The main method of treatment of chronic prostatitis is complex drug treatment based on the results of bacterial culture of prostate secretion and urine.The duration of the treatment course should be at least 4 weeks, in case of positive dynamics, it should be continued until the infection is completely eliminated.

Drugs used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis are divided into the following groups:

• antibiotics and antibacterial preparations;
• alpha-blockers (drugs that cause expansion of blood vessels and channels and regulate metabolism in the prostate gland);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
• immunostimulants;
• antidepressants;
• vitamin complexes;
• plant extracts;
• analgesics;
• drugs to improve microcirculation and reduce blood clotting.

In the treatment of chronic prostatitis, prostate massage, which improves blood and lymph circulation, removes congestion and increases the permeability of the prostate ducts, plays an important role.

In recent years, the range of therapeutic measures has been expanded to include various physiotherapy methods:

1. UHF therapy.
2. Laser therapy (improves microcirculation and removes congestion in the prostate gland).
3. Rectal electrophoresis.
4. Microwave hyperthermia.

Spa treatments are also indicated, especially mud treatments and thermal baths.

Surgical treatment methods are used only in the last stage of the disease - prostate sclerosis.At this time, transurethral resection of the bladder neck, prostate gland and seminal tubercle is performed.

Due to the lack of universal approaches to the treatment of chronic prostatitis, the main goal of therapy is to eliminate the source of infection, normalize the immune background and restore normal prostate function.

Prevention of chronic prostatitis is aimed at eliminating the factors that lead to the development of the disease.

The risk of chronic prostatitis is reduced if the following conditions are met:

• regular physical activity;
• healthy sleep patterns;
• good nutrition;
• regular sex life.