Chronic Prostatitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

symptoms and causes of prostatitis

Prostatitis is diagnosed exclusively in men. This is one of the most common diseases of the male reproductive system, 4 out of 5 men have had symptoms of prostatitis at least once in their life.

Most of the time, prostatitis affects men between the ages of 20 and 40 at the height of their sexual activity. Chronic prostatitis is diagnosed in every 10 men. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission and masquerades as other diseases.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include the following manifestations:

  • Aching aches and pains in the lower abdomen, with periodic cramps that do not go away for a quarter or more. Pain can appear in the lower back, legs, scrotum, anus. It is especially painful to turn around when urinating and ejaculating.
  • Penile erection worsens and sexual desire weakens. First, premature ejaculation develops, and over time, on the contrary, ejaculation practically does not occur, it becomes very difficult to achieve it.
  • Urination becomes painful and incomplete. All the time there is a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
  • A man's quality of life deteriorates sometimes.

There are 2 types of chronic prostatitis: bacterial and abacterial.

Bacterial (infectious) prostatitis occurs with a constant alternation of exacerbations and acute remissions, while the infection and bacteria lie in the secret of the prostate.

In this case, nearby organs, such as the urethra, the neck of the bladder, the vas deferens, can also be affected, and therefore the disease manifests itself in different ways. An accurate diagnosis can be made after a thorough examination.

Most often, the disease manifests itself as follows:

  • Frequent and painful urination.
  • Burning in the urethra.
  • Premature ejaculation.
  • Small mucous discharge from the urethra.
  • Serious disorders of sexual function.

All this greatly affects the working capacity and mental state of a man, which leads to prolonged depression and neurasthenia.

Chronic abacterial prostatitis is a disease in which bacteria are not found in the secretion of the prostate. This form is very difficult to diagnose, as evidenced by numerous reviews of men on various forums. It is also very difficult to find the right treatment regimen.

Important

Until now, doctors are faced with many unclear factors about the origin of this disease. This greatly complicates the treatment process.

Even ultrasound and laboratory tests of the discharge may not show the presence of an inflammatory process. According to the recommendations of the European Association of Urologists, the main signs of abacterial prostatitis are distinguished:

  • It appears in middle-aged men.
  • Prolonged pain in the pelvic region and in the groin.
  • Violation of the function of urination and frequent imperative impulses.
  • Erectile dysfunction and pain during ejaculation.
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis: exacerbation and remission
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis is characterized by several stages of development, which are manifested by its different signs:
  • Exudative: A man feels a cutting pain in the groin, scrotum, and pubic area.
  • Erection problems and accelerated ejaculation are observed.
  • Alternative: The patient complains of discomfort in the groin, scrotum and pubis.
  • There is frequent urge to urinate and rapid ejaculation during sexual intercourse.
  • Proliferation - the patient notes frequent urination with a weak stream, a constant feeling of not completely emptying the bladder. And ejaculation becomes, on the contrary, difficult and slow.
  • Scarring changes: At this stage, the prostate tissues begin to thicken intensely. The patient complains of discomfort in the pelvic and pubic area, frequent urination with a fine stream, and incomplete emptying. The erection is very weak or non-existent, ejaculation becomes almost impossible, and the orgasm is weak, without vivid impressions. Prostatitis passes into the stage of unstable remission chronic prostatitis, in which constant pain is observed, and remission occurs only for a few hours.

Regarding classification, it is customary to use the US NIH classification, which divides the disease into types: acute and chronic bacterial, chronic without signs of inflammation and congestive, as well as histological.

Factors and causes of chronic prostatitis in men.

Although there are some chronic prostatitis germs in almost everyone's body, only a few get sick. How can the development of such a disease be explained in a particular case?

Experts determine the occurrence of chronic prostatitis not only by the presence of an infection in the body, but also by conditions that affect the development of the disease.

The most common causes of chronic prostatitis in men include:

  • stagnation of blood, which is contained in the prostate, caused by a sedentary lifestyle;
  • unstable sex life;
  • uncomfortable and rather tight clothing;
  • frequent hypothermia;
  • injuries, as well as infections of various organs of the genitourinary system;
  • malnutrition;
  • constant stress;
  • drink and smoke frequently.

The diagnosis begins with a conversation with the patient, who must accurately and completely tell him what is troubling him. The doctor must find out why the patient developed chronic prostatitis, find out all the possible causes and symptoms, how they manifest themselves. The doctor must tell everything to the smallest detail, it will depend on how correctly the diagnosis is made and effective and comprehensive treatment is prescribed.

Next, you need to palpate and pass the secret for bacteriological analysis, thanks to which you can determine the presence of infections and find out the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

Attention

Palpation is performed by the urologist through the rectum. This procedure allows knowing the size and pain of the prostate. Probing can also detect hemorrhoids, adenoma or prostate cancer. Ultrasound of the prostate will provide accurate data on the state of the organ.

Determining the level of PSA in the blood allows to exclude or confirm the presence of adenoma and prostate cancer.

If the urologist suspects the presence of a tumor, he will have to take pieces of prostate tissue to perform a biopsy, which will show its presence or absence.

The treatment of chronic prostatitis is a complex and slow process. Today, various methods are used to treat this disease.

Antibiotic treatment. In this case, antibiotics of the macrolide group and tetracycline are used.

Only the attending physician can choose the correct drug, its dosage and the duration of treatment.

Medicines are usually taken for 10 to 15 days. After that, repeated tests are carried out, based on the results of which the doctor will determine whether the patient has recovered or whether additional treatment is required.

Prostatic massage is necessary so that the secretion of the prostate does not stagnate and its microcirculation occurs. This is very conducive to a speedy recovery.

However, massage is prohibited for acute prostatitis, hemorrhoids, and rectal fissures.

Massage is usually prescribed as an additional therapy to antibiotic treatment.

Physiotherapy is prescribed to improve the condition of the tissues of the prostate gland, due to which the healing process is accelerated.

For treatment, laser therapy and ultraphoresis are used. The use of mud, enemas with mineral waters rich in hydrogen sulfide is also effective.

Phytotherapy is used as an additional stimulus to the patient's recovery and is always used in combination with other methods. Various herbal remedies are used for treatment.

In some cases, surgical intervention may also be indicated if the urethra is severely narrowed, abscesses, or prostate adenoma are detected.

Important

Diagnosis and treatment should be carried out in a medical center under the constant supervision of qualified doctors.

By contacting a doctor in time, you can achieve a quick cure. Starting treatment, there will be a long-term remission. You can talk about complete recovery when all the symptoms of the disease disappear and the laboratory tests show good results.

The most popular questions from patients about chronic prostatitis.

How to cure chronic prostatitis with folk remedies quickly and effectively?

Treatment can be carried out with the help of folk remedies. In folk medicine, the most popular is the use of infusions of chamomile, yarrow and sage. These microclysters very well relieve the inflammation that occurs in the prostate.

To prepare such a microclyster, take two tablespoons of chamomile and pour 100 gr of grass. boiling water. Also, for treatment, you can use horse chestnut husk, which is poured with alcohol and kept for 10 days in a dark place.

An onion decoction also helps. It is necessary to finely chop two large onions and pour them with boiling water in a half-liter jar. The jar is wrapped with a towel and left to stand for 2 hours. Then every hour you need to drink 50 grams of broth.

How to cure impotence in chronic prostatitis?

Impotence can be cured at home, subject to a set of measures.

It is necessary to choose suitable drugs that will help fill the cavernous bodies of the penis with blood. But before that, a consultation with a urologist is required. Modern potency-enhancing drugs with the active ingredient sildenafil have a good effect.

It is necessary to adjust the diet and go on a diet. You can not eat fatty foods and foods that lower testosterone. It is necessary to lean on cereals and lean meats, drink juices and green tea.

Also, do not forget about physical activity. Walking and light running outdoors are very effective in this regard. You also need to make swings with your legs. This helps contract the muscles of the anus and perineum.

How long is chronic prostatitis treated and how to get rid of it forever?

Antibiotic therapy lasts from 1 to 3 months, depending on the neglect of the disease. If necessary, additional treatment with small doses of antibiotics may be prescribed. Lipophilic antibiotics are better suited to this task.

In order to forget about this problem forever, you need to change your lifestyle, eat right, not get too cold, and give the body a rest.

Why is chronic prostatitis dangerous?

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by acute exacerbations of the disease, which are replaced by remissions. When the pain subsides, it becomes easier, and the man decides that he can cope with this problem on his own, instead of quickly contacting a urologist. However, the delay will not help here, since with each exacerbation the inflammation will increase.

The inflammation can affect nearby organs and lead to cystitis, pyelonephritis, and vesiculitis. As a result, a man may develop infertility.

What antibiotics to take for chronic prostatitis?

A series of penicillins is often used. Tetracycline antibiotics are often prescribed for mycoplasmas and chlamydia.

Fluoroquinolones are very effective and penetrate well into the tissues of the prostate. Macrolides accumulate well in the tissues of the prostate and quickly remove toxins.

Is it possible to have sex with chronic prostatitis?

If the disease is caused by an infection, it is better to refrain from sexual intercourse so as not to infect your partner. Although you can use a condom. It is simply necessary to have sex, because when excited, the blood rushes to the prostate gland and it begins to contract. Also, during ejaculation, the pelvic muscles contract strongly, which is considered a good self-massage.

Prevention of chronic prostatitis in men and its characteristics.

Prevention of chronic prostatitis in men involves a healthy lifestyle and daily exercise. You can constantly tense and relax your scrotum from time to time.

With each urination, stop the flow a little, so the sphincter of the bladder will tighten somewhat. Such high-quality exercises will allow blood to circulate well through the veins of the prostate, as well as improve metabolic processes in the body.