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 gland of sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic microflora. By itself, inflammation of the gland is not terrible, but in the absence of an effective treatment, it can cause urinary disorders, pain, lead to male infertility, impotence. Also, the development of chronic prostatitis very often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular sexual activity.

What role does the prostate gland play in the body?

The prostate, in the shape of a chestnut, is located under the bladder. It prevents the entry of seminal fluid into it, and also produces the secretion of the prostate, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common cause of chronic prostate inflammation are sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. Also, 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 emergence of more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

Causes of disease onset also include:

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

The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:

1. Infections.They enter the body in different ways - through the urethra, with blood or lymph flowing from the foci of infection or inflamed organs in their body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostate glandor stagnation of its secretion, which occur in the following cases:
   • long-term sexual abstinence;
   • frequently interrupted intercourse or unrealized arousal;
   • damaged ejaculation.

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

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms:

• feeling of discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic areas, perineum, scrotum, rectum, in the lumbosacral region;
• frequent and painful desire to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (persistent or at the time of urination);
• intermittent or slow urine flow;
• reducing the duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased sexual desire, premature ejaculation;
• periodic / permanent absence of erection in the morning (spontaneous);
• pain of an attractive nature in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which disappears on its own within 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, vesicles. Over time, against the background of prostate inflammation, infertility and impotence develop.

Diagnosis of the disease

Laboratory and instrumental examinations are required for an accurate diagnosis. It includes:

• general urine analysis,
• general blood test,
• study of prostate secretion,
• bacteriological examination of prostate secretion to identify microflora by determining susceptibility to antibacterial drugs;
• blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland,
• digital prostate examination.

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 during the day and night, poor urine flow, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, coliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tuberculosis.
• Gland abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgical intervention.
• Prostate sclerosis - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and consequently prostate stones.
• Impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment of this disease should be done only under the constant supervision of a physician. One of the best and most effective modern medicines 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 be used:

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

There is no universal medicine. Therefore, doctors may recommend antibacterial drugs of different groups. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others. They all affect the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection.

Alpha-blockers - medicines for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostate urethra and bladder neck, facilitate urine flow by relieving spasm. In fact, they do not cure, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.

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

A drug	strengths	disadvantages	Recommendations for use
Fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into prostate tissue. Good bioavailability. Equivalence of oral and parenteral pharmacokinetics. Good activity against typical and atypical pathogens.	Cross-allergy. Phototoxicity. Impact on the central nervous system.	Recommended for use.
Diaminopyrimidine	Good penetration into prostate tissue. No dose selection is required. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteriaceae.	Second-line 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.
tetracycline	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococcus, Escherichia coli.	Used for specific pathogens.

An effective cure for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base, there are drugs from bovine prostate tissue extract. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in treating 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.
• Improving the functional state of the prostate gland.
• Reduction of congestion, reduction of prostate edema.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalize complete blood circulation in the pelvic area, reducing the chance of blood clotting in the blood vessels.
• Decreased concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate prostate tissue.

Methods of treating chronic prostatitis

In most cases, a chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. But it must be remembered that therapy will bring a quick positive result only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to review the lifestyle that causes the disease, otherwise a relapse is likely. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and debauchery are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Healing procedures:

• prostate massageperformed manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
• Physiotherapy procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and absorption of drugs into tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasound heating and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
• Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, namely with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostate, low mineral water is usually prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• Diet therapy.You need to 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 prostate ducts, increasing pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat in order to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, fizzy drinks and pastries are forbidden.

The diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (it is found in seafood and pumpkin seeds). It is recommended to eat as many vegetables (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: follows diet, plays sports, etc. Preventing prostatitis is facilitated by the rejection of bad habits and casual sex.

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

Primary preventiondescends to regular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, adherence to a regime of physical activity, timely and complete treatment of any infectious (purulent) diseases of the body and timely hygiene of the oral cavity.

Secondary preventionprovides regular examination by a urologist and preventive treatment - multivitamins, restorative medicines, sports.

likeprophylactic medicationprostate diseases, suppositories may be used.