Prostatitis is one of the most common diseases of the male genital area. Symptoms of prostatitis in men and its treatment cannot be independently determined and prescribed.
If a man has the first signs of prostatitis, he should immediately consult a doctor. Even a slight malaise, indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system, can have serious complications.
The shape of the prostate resembles a chestnut. The transverse length of the prostate in men is 4 cm, longitudinal - 3 cm, thickness - 2 cm. The organ consists of glandular tissue. In the upper part it is connected to the bladder, and the seminal ducts depart from the lower part.
Functions of the prostate
The prostate or prostate gland performs a very important function: it produces seminal fluid, which mixes with spermatozoa and forms semen. The organ acts as a valve during erection, which prevents urine from flowing out during intercourse.
Due to the content of immunoglobulins A and B in the prostate, as well as lysozyme (an antibacterial enzyme), the infection cannot penetrate into the upper urinary tract.
The functional ability of the testicles depends on the prostate, therefore, with diseases of this organ, the male's sexual strength weakens and sperm production is disrupted, which can lead to infertility.
Why men develop prostatitis
Prostatitis is a common disease among men. People living in cold regions with high humidity are more susceptible to it. Prostatitis occurs as a result of hypothermia of the body, because cold is a predisposing factor for the stagnation of liquid secretion, and this leads to the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
Prostatitis develops after 30 years. With weak immunity, he can take a chronic course without pronounced symptoms, so the man does not notice the signs of the disease and does not go to the doctor, but lives with this disease for many years. Make an appointment with a doctor only after a sharp deterioration in health. This happens by the age of 45-50, when a man is diagnosed with prostate adenoma, and treatment becomes more complicated.
The disease is a benign tumor of the prostate, which worsens the quality of life of a man, gradually making intimacy impossible. Treatment of adenoma is only surgical. After its removal, the problem disappears, but in the postoperative period, it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's prescriptions, in which case the rehabilitation process will be painless, and the person will return to a full life. It is necessary to be careful, avoid hypothermia, and the symptoms of prostatitis will not return.
What are the symptoms of prostatitis
Prostatitis does not manifest itself immediately, gradually developing in the body. Symptoms of the disease in men are manifested by pain in the lower abdomen, suprapubic area and in the perineum.
These sensations are intensified after sexual intercourse. Urination becomes intermittent, painful, and there may be a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. Especially the pathological condition manifests itself at night, there are false painful urges to go to the toilet. Pain also occurs during ejaculation. Sexual intercourse becomes painful.
Prostatitis has an acute and chronic course. During the acute phase, the symptoms of the disease worsen, the patient's health deteriorates sharply. The first signs of prostatitis in men in the acute phase of the course are as follows:
- the temperature rises;
- there is weakness and aches in the body;
- chills occur.
Studies are carried out, laboratory tests are taken, urine, semen and blood are examined. In acute bacterial prostatitis, the indicators will be clearly expressed. In the chronic course of the disease in a man, increased irritability, anxiety, irascibility, etc. are more pronounced. In order to correctly diagnose the disease, an examination is necessary.
Bacterial prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate gland that drastically reduces the patient's quality of life and can cause irreversible consequences in the male genital organs.
Prostatitis can be infectious or congestive (non-infectious). Infectious prostatitis occurs when an infection enters the tissues of the prostate. Microbes, viruses, fungi and bacteria can penetrate through the genital tract. The disease can develop as a result of chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis or kidney disease.
Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms live in the human body, which can be activated when the immune system is weakened or during hypothermia. These are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococci, etc. Having penetrated into the prostate, they cause an acute inflammatory process.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitis is formed due to circulatory disorders in the pelvis. The cause may be a sedentary lifestyle, pelvic injuries, hormonal disorders, prolonged sexual abstinence or excessively active sex life. The prostate is adversely affected by smoking and alcohol.
How to treat prostatitis
With prostatitis of an infectious nature, antibiotic therapy is used. After identifying the type of pathogen, an appropriate combination of antibiotics is prescribed, after which the health improves in a short time.
Preparations are selected only after laboratory analysis and finding out the type of pathogen.
If the disease is bacterial in nature, in which live microorganisms are present, then without individually selected antibiotics, treatment will be ineffective.
With prostatitis, choosing the right drug is very important. There are substances that cannot penetrate the prostate tissue, and treatment with them will be useless. And there are a number of antibiotics that have a weak effect. Only a doctor can choose the tactics of treatment.
In the acute form of prostatitis, nonsteroidal drugs are prescribed.
In the acute phase of the disease, a powerful dose of an antibiotic may be needed, when, with mild symptoms of the disease, a more gentle remedy can be used.
In the chronic stage of the disease, alpha-blockers are prescribed. The patient may be prescribed diuretics.
In the presence of infectious flora, it can penetrate into the bladder, which will cause the development of acute cystitis. Your doctor may prescribe diuretics and a drinking regimen to actively empty your bladder.
With prostatitis, the prostate gland is swollen, and to relieve swelling, a man is prescribed antiandrogens. These drugs temporarily reduce secretions and block blood flow. Cold enemas may be prescribed. They help relieve swelling in prostatitis, inflammation and reduce blood flow. Many physicians are reluctant to use cold when treated with antibiotics because they find that, along with blood flow delay, the drugs do not reach the prostate tissue and there is no appropriate treatment.
If after the course of treatment there is no clinical response to antibiotics, then this should serve as a reason for suspecting a prostate abscess. To eliminate such a pathology, surgical intervention must be applied, otherwise the consequences may be unpredictable.
Often patients with prostatitis are prescribed prostate massage, which is performed through the anus. But in the acute phase of the disease, when there is inflammation, there is swelling of the gland and the infection progresses, massage is categorically contraindicated, since bacteria can easily spread into the urine and blood, which can cause sepsis, which has serious consequences up to death.
Biopsy for severe prostatitis is not performed. The data obtained on the basis of the analysis of blood, urine, smears and ultrasound is sufficient to make the correct diagnosis and select drugs for the treatment and alleviation of the patient's condition.
If there are signs and symptoms of prostatitis, it is urgent to contact a urologist or andrologist. He will choose which medicines are suitable for the patient in order to effectively treat the pathology. In no case should you self-medicate.