Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) is a very painful condition. But usually prostatitis is not limited to pain and causes even more serious symptoms. Which one? How long does prostate inflammation usually last? And what does it help?
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate (prostate gland). The prostate can become inflamed as a result, for example, of bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue from the urinary tract. Depending on whether the cause of prostate inflammation is bacteria or not, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacterial;
- bacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four-centimeter gland, which in men is located below the bladder. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces a secretion that mixes with sperm during ejaculation. This secretion ensures sperm motility and provides support on the way to the female egg.
The prostate gland in men can become inflamed as a result of inflammation of the bladder or urethra (urethra), and the causative agents of inflammation can be bacteria that migrate from the bladder or urethra to the prostate. In this case we are talking about acute prostatitis. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.
In about 5 out of 100 patients, the bacteria remain in the prostate despite treatment, leaving the inflammation unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Bacteria are not always the cause of prostate inflammation
In addition to bacteria, there are other factors that can cause prostate inflammation, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mental problems, stress, and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Since prostatitis in this case appearsnot because of bacteria, his name isbacterial prostatitis.
Sometimes abacterial prostatitis is called one of the forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). However, this pain syndrome can develop even without inflammation of the prostate. In addition to inflammatory, there are also non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note:In chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to those of prostatitis, but neither bacteria nor signs of inflammation are found.
However, in the official classification
prostatitis The US National Institutes of Health lists inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of the syndromeCHRONIC pelvic pain.According to many people, this presents
PHYSICIAN misleading and at worst can lead to inappropriate treatment. Unlike inflammation of the prostate gland, chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of prostatitis
There are a number of factors that contribute to inflammation of the prostate gland. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- operations in the urogenital area;
- unprotected anal sex.
In these and other circumstances, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation of the prostate gland. If bacteria enter the prostate, it can lead to bacterial prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis can have different causes. Let's take a closer look at the causes of both types of prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis
Most bacterial prostatitis is caused by intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli or enterococci. If they enter the urinary tract through the opening of the penis, they first cause infection of the urethra or bladder, then the pathogens enter the prostate gland, causing inflammation of the prostate.
Men who get prostatitis in the hospital often have Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They enter the urinary tract after bladder catheterization.
In rare cases, inflammation of the prostate occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the causative agents are mainly chlamydia.
Bacterial prostatitis
In abacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome), any bacteria can be the culprit. However, after tests, leukocytes (white blood cells that protect the body) are found in the prostate and sperm. This indicates that the body is fighting inflammation.
What causes this inflammation is not fully understood and studied by specialists. This is likely to be the result of the combined effects of various factors. The following factors may play a role:
- impaired immune response;
- central nervous system disorders that affect the nerves and muscles of the genitourinary system and prevent a person from emptying their bladder normally;
- mental disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Some experts suggest that hidden infections may be the cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, this assumption is debatable.
Typical symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are:
- frequent urination;
- burning during urination (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during bowel movements;
- nausea, vomiting;
- fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and problems with urination. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and then appear after a while. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a recurrent course with fading and reoccurring inflammation. It can last for many months.
Another characteristic sign of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland is erectile dysfunction.
Bacterial inflammation of the prostate, which is not caused by bacteria, basically causes symptoms similar to those of chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate
In rare cases, the doctor may detect an increased number of white blood cells in the ejaculate or prostate secretions, but the affected person may not feel pain or other symptoms of prostate inflammation.
Such cases are classified as asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate and are usually discovered incidentally as part of a cancer or infertility examination.
Diagnosing
A doctor can diagnose acute bacterial prostatitis by asking the patient about his symptoms and examining the prostate. First, the doctor feels the prostate with his finger. If warmth and swelling are felt in the prostate area during palpation and the patient experiences pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also do a urinalysis and take blood from the patient to examine the level of inflammatory cells.
Chronic bacterial inflammation of the prostate cannot be diagnosed by palpation alone. For example, if the patient is between two periods of inflammation, the doctor will not be able to detect severe swelling during palpation. Therefore, blood and urine tests are necessary to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
To detect chronic prostatitis, a urine sample is not enough. Because if the urine contains white blood cells and bacteria, this can also indicate a urinary tract infection. To find out if the inflammation is affecting the prostate, your doctor will need to examine some urine samples
Treatment of prostatitis
What treatment will help with inflammation of the prostate depends on the cause: if the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the therapy will differ from the treatment of abacterial prostatitis. However, in both cases, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called antiphlogistics).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
For bacterial inflammation of the prostate, antibiotics will help eliminate the symptoms.
- In case of mild acute prostatitis, the doctor should prescribe antibiotics from the Fluoroquinolone group, the patient should take them for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor may administer broad-spectrum antibiotics to the patient.
- If it is chronic inflammation, the patient usually receives a fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control nonbacterial inflammation of the prostate gland using a combination of different medications. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, they can also prescribe the so-calledalpha-1 receptor blockers. They relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder and thereby promote bladder emptying.
Depending on the doctor's suspicions about the cause of the inflammation, further measures may be necessary. For example, it has been suggested that psychological problems may also play a role in the development of nonbacterial prostatitis. In this case, the doctor may recommend psychotherapy.
In addition, thermal treatments such as baths can often be used to relieve symptoms.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for prostatitis serve as an alternative to drug therapy. It is used for bacterial prostatitis. Before using folk remedies, consult your doctor.
Firewed
Fireweed has proven itself to be an excellent remedy for prostate diseases.
Fireweed is a perennial herb. It has small flowers, usually white, but they also come in various shades of red.
Fire seeds are small, on their surface there is a fluff, with the help of which they spread.
There are about 200 species of weeds, the plant is often considered a weed and can be very toxic, but beneficial effects have only been demonstrated in fireweed. Flowers and roots are used. The content of biologically active substances (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on prostate activity.
Use of fire herb:
Pour 1 teaspoon of herbs into 1/4 liter of water, bring to a boil and let steep for a short time (15 minutes). You should sip it throughout the day (up to 2 glasses) chilled.
This medicinal plant is used for various urological diseases, in particular:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- for kidney diseases;
- for bladder diseases;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
Fire is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, as a rule, it is combined with other herbs, depending on the nature of the problems, most often with cranberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are probably the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is recommended to drink 3 cups of green tea a day.
This drink promotes frequent urination, which helps to cleanse the entire body. In addition, green tea is directly involved in detoxifying the body.
Advice!Men are advised to urinate while sitting. In this way, complete emptying of the bladder is achieved. The sitting position completely releases all the pelvic muscles, as a result of which there is no residual urine in the bladder, in which some pathogenic bacteria would otherwise multiply quickly.
nettles
2 handfuls of freshly harvested nettle leaves - about 15 cm from the top of the plant - should be poured with 300 ml of drinking water and left to infuse overnight (approximately 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be warmed up a little and drunk.
Red blueberry
Blueberry is one of the famous fighters against prostatitis. Home treatment with blueberries includes consuming them in dry, fresh or canned form. In the latter case, however, you should beware of added sugar.
Cranberry juices are also available in stores. You also need to be careful here and read the label carefully to make sure the juice doesn't contain added juices from other fruits or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has healing effects.
Add dried cranberries to porridge or oatmeal.
For whom blueberries are not suitable:
Blueberries are contraindicated for people taking blood-thinning medications. Blueberry can reduce the antiplatelet effects of the drug, which will lead to bleeding.
Ginger
When treating prostatitis, you can pay attention to another useful product - ginger root. Ginger is a promising product for the treatment of this disease. It has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant properties, interrupts the reproductive cycle of cancer cells (which is particularly important in the treatment of prostate cancer) and induces apoptosis. Along with this, ginger is not toxic to other fast growing cells.
It should be taken after meals, adding the root to tea (preferably green).
Pumpkin seeds
As practice shows, the most effective method of treating prostatitis is the use of fresh and not dry pumpkin seeds.
Preparation: Pumpkin seeds must be crushed. The resulting mass is mixed with honey in equal proportions and slightly heated. Then you have to leave it in the fridge for a few hours, after which you have to form balls the size of a walnut.
The balls are taken before meals, 1-2 times a day, every day.
For preventive purposes, you can eat 4-5 pumpkin seeds every day. They contain zinc, selenium and other biochemical substances that reduce inflammation in the body, including the prostate gland, and have a positive effect on the formation of the male hormone testosterone.
Chestnuts
Chestnuts are also effective and have no side effects, which is very important for the elderly.
Chestnuts should be peeled, the kernels should be crushed into small pieces, pour boiling water over them and let it boil for an hour.
The decoction should be taken 3 times a day before meals, 30 drops.
Regular sex
Regular sex, like masturbation, cleans the prostate, promotes blood circulation and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually go away within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms should decrease significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts several months and usually occurs in relapses, between which the patient experiences little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Is it possible to prevent prostatitis?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent the spread of microbes to the prostate and thus inflammation of the prostate. Using condoms can also help prevent inflammation of the prostate caused by some sexually transmitted diseases.