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

What role does the prostate play in the body?

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

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common cause of chronic prostate inflammation are 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 so terrible as the fact that this disease is a trigger for the onset of more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

The causes of the onset of the disease also include:

• frequent hypothermia;
• low immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• the presence of bad habits of a person;
• injuries of the pelvic organs;
• 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 the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in their own body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostateor the stagnation of his secret, which occur in the following cases:
   • sexual abstinence for a long time;
   • often interrupted sexual intercourse or unrealized arousal;
   • defective ejaculation.

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

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms:

• feeling of discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic regions, perineum, scrotum, rectum, in the lumbosacral region;
• frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constant or when urinating);
• intermittent or slow urine stream;
• reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decrease in libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic / permanent absence of morning erection (spontaneous);
• pain of a pulling nature in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which subsides 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, vesiculitis. Over time, against the background of inflammation of the prostate, infertility and impotence develop.

Diagnosis of the disease

For an accurate diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental examinations are necessary. He understands:

• general urinalysis,
• general blood test,
• study of prostatic secretion,
• bacteriological examination of prostatic secretion to identify microflora with determination of susceptibility to antibacterial drugs,
• blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and the prostate,
• digital prostate exam.

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

This disease provokes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate the life of a man:

• Urination disorders: frequent urination day and night, weak urine stream, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, colliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercle.
• The abscess of the gland is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgery.
• Sclerosis of the prostate - develops with a long prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, consequently, stones of the prostate.
• Impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

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

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

• antibacterial,
• alpha-blockers,
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There are no universal drugs. Therefore, doctors can recommend antibacterial drugs from different groups. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others. All 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, facilitate the outflow of urine, relieving spasms. 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	Advantages	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. Influence on the central nervous system.	Recommended use.
Diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into prostate tissue. Does not require dosage selection. 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.
Tetracyclines	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	Used for specific pathogens.

An effective remedy for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base, there are drugs based on 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 process of urination.
• Improve the functional state of the prostate.
• Reduce congestion, reduce prostate edema.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalization of complete blood circulation in the pelvic region, reducing the risk of blood clots in blood vessels.
• Decreased concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate 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 the 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. Alcohol abuse, an unbalanced diet, a sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Healing procedures:

• prostate massageperformed manually through the anus. It should be noted that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the efficiency is very high.
• Physiotherapy procedures.The treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and the absorption of drugs in the tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasound heating and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
• Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated by balneotherapy methods, that is, with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostatitis, low-mineralized water is usually prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• Diet therapy.You should start following a special diet at the first signs of prostatitis. First of all, you need to give up alcoholic beverages, since ethyl alcohol irritates the ducts of the prostate, increasing pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the consumption 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, soft drinks and pastries 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 for those that contribute to gas formation - 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 the diet, plays sports, etc. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by the rejection of bad habits and casual sex.

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

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

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

How? 'Or' Whatprophylactic drugprostate diseases, suppositories can be used.