Chronic prostatitis: symptoms of the disease, prevention and treatment

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

What is the role of the prostate in the body?

The chestnut-shaped prostate is located under the bladder. It prevents seminal fluid from entering it and also produces secretion from the prostate, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

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

Causes of the onset of the disease also include:

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

The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:

1. infections.They enter the body in several ways - through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in your own body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostateor stagnation of your secret, which occur in the following cases:
   • sexual abstinence for a long time;
   • sexual intercourse often interrupted or arousal not performed;
   • defective ejaculation.

Stress, alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in the male body. An exacerbation is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, errors in diet (very spicy food, alcohol).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms:

• sensation of discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic areas, perineum, scrotum, rectum, in the lumbosacral region;
• frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constant or at the time of urination);
• intermittent or slow stream of urine;
• reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic/permanent absence of morning erection (spontaneous);
• pain of a pulling nature in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which disappears on its own in 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.

Disease diagnosis

For an accurate diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental tests are necessary. Includes:

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

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

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

• Urinary disorders: frequent urination day and night, weak urinary stream, sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
• Vesiculitis, coliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercle.
• Gland abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
• Prostate sclerosis - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, as a result, prostate stones.
• Impotence, infertility.

Chronic prostatitis treatment

Treatment of this disease should only take place under the constant supervision of a doctor. One of the best and most effective modern drugs used to treat chronic prostatitis is an extract of prostate tissue. Its use gives a quick result and elimination of symptoms.

As the therapy must be complex, other drugs must also be used:

• anti-bacterial,
• alpha blockers,
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There are no universal medicines. Therefore, doctors may recommend antibacterial drugs from different groups. Cephalosporins, protected 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, make it easier to pass urine by relieving the spasm. In fact, they do not cure, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.

Among anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend both the reduction of the inflammatory process and the reduction of pain.

A drug	Benefits	disadvantages	Usage recommendations
fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into prostate tissue. Good bioavailability. Equivalence of oral and parenteral pharmacokinetics. Good activity against typical and atypical pathogens.	Cross allergy. Phototoxicity. Influence on the central nervous system.	Recommended for use.
diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into prostate tissue. No dosage selection required. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria.	Second-tier drugs.
macrolides	Moderate activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Activity against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into prostate tissue. Low toxicity.	Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria.	Used for specific pathogens.
tetracyclines	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	Used for specific pathogens.

An effective cure for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base are drugs derived from bovine prostate tissue extract. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in the treatment of acute and chronic forms of the disease. This drug 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 for chronic prostatitis:

• Elimination of dysuric disorders and normalization of the urination process.
• Improve the functional status of the prostate.
• Reducing congestion, reducing prostate edema.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalization of complete blood circulation in the pelvic area, reducing the likelihood of blood clots in the blood vessels.
• Decreased concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate the prostate tissue.

Methods of treatment of chronic prostatitis

In most cases, a chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. But 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 to occur. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Healing procedures:

• prostate massageperformed manually by the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
• Physiotherapy procedures.The treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results, improving microcirculation and drug absorption in the tissues. Physiotherapy procedures include ultrasonic heating and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
• Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, that is, with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostatitis, water with a low content of minerals is usually prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• Diet therapy.You should start adhering to a special diet at the first signs of prostatitis. First of all, you should give up alcoholic beverages as ethyl alcohol irritates the prostatic ducts, increasing pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Vegetables, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and sweets are prohibited.

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

Preventive measures

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

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

primary preventionit boils down to regular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, adherence to a physical activity regimen, timely and thorough treatment of any infectious (purulent) diseases of the body, and timely cleaning of the oral cavity.

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

as theprophylactic drugprostate diseases, suppositories can be used.