Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland.Currently, urologists are inclined to believe that prostatitis is not a single disease, but combines several diseases of the male reproductive system.This is one of the most common pathologies of the male urogenital tract, and according to experts, the percentage of men suffering from prostatitis in one form or another is constantly growing.With age, the risk of developing prostatitis increases.
Causes of prostatitis
The direct cause of prostatitis is two factors of equal importance.The first is the occurrence of congestion in the pelvis, and as a consequence, in the prostate, and the second is the addition of an infection.However, in some cases it is not possible to detect an infectious pathogen in the tissues of the prostate; presumably in such cases, the cause of prostatitis is autoimmune processes, which means that the prostate gland is attacked by the cells of its own immune system as a result of a malfunction that has occurred in it.
Predisposing factors for the occurrence of inflammation in the prostate gland are: weakened immunity as a result of infection, hypothermia, stress;hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, physical inactivity, food preferences (addiction to fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods), frequent urinary retention.Irregular sex life is considered one of the common causes of prostatitis.
Types of prostatitis
Currently, an international classification of prostatitis has been adopted, which is the most complete and covers all types of inflammation:
- Category I. Acute prostatitis;
- Category II.Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III.Non-bacterial chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome - a disease in which infection is not detected, lasting more than 3 months;
- Subcategory III A. Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes are detected in the prostate secretion);
- Subcategory III B. Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (there are no leukocytes in the prostate secretion);
- Category IV.Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (leukocytes are present in the prostate secretion, the patient has no complaints, the disease is detected by chance).
Symptoms of prostatitis
There is the so-called “prostatitis triad”, the three most common symptoms of prostatitis.These include:
- pain in the pelvic and genital areas;
- urination disorders, which include sluggish stream, intermittent stream, incomplete emptying of the bladder, frequent urination, etc.;
- disorders in the genital area.
It should be noted that not all three symptoms of prostatitis are mandatory; in addition, acute and chronic prostatitis occur differently.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe, sharp pain in the prostate gland, which radiates to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back;deterioration of general condition, fever, headache and muscle pain, general weakness;disturbance of urination up to acute urinary retention as a result of swelling of the prostate gland and compression of the urethra.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate gland, but less intense than with acute prostatitis;urination disorders, sexual disorders: incomplete erection, short-term erection, accelerated ejaculation, etc.Chronic prostatitis can have a wave-like course, when periods of exacerbation are followed by periods of subsidence, or it can have constantly mild symptoms.
Unlike other inflammatory diseases, when a chronic process is a consequence of untreated acute inflammation, chronic prostatitis is often primary chronic, when the patient himself finds it difficult to determine the onset of the disease.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
To diagnose prostatitis, the following studies are performed:
- analysis of prostate secretion;
- digital rectal examination;
- transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
- blood test for PSA (prostate antigen);
- general blood test;
- general urinalysis;
- urine test for urogenital infections before and after prostate massage;
- uroflowmetry (urination study).
The main thing in diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, since therapeutic measures depend on this.Another diagnostic task is to exclude prostate cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis
Acute and chronic prostatitis of bacterial origin is treated with antibacterial drugs.Powerful doses of antibiotics are prescribed for acute prostatitis, even before culture results are obtained, since an acute process requires immediate action.In combination, anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs are prescribed, which also have an analgesic effect.
Chronic prostatitis is treated depending on the cause that caused it.For non-bacterial prostatitis, restorative and immunomodulating drugs are taken.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out with the obligatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, ultrasound, etc.
Urologists claim that treatment of prostatitis with medical means alone will lead to only temporary relief, since without changing the usual lifestyle, treatment of prostatitis is ineffective.It is necessary to give up bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminating physical inactivity, avoid congestion in the pelvis with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, move more on foot, and also get enough rest.
It is also important to improve your sex life, making it regular, and eat well.Chronic prostatitis is prone to relapses, so changes in lifestyle should be permanent, only in this case treatment of prostatitis will lead to a complete cure.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Traditional methods are widely and successfully used to treat prostatitis, especially for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.They act more mildly than medications, but are still quite effective and have fewer side effects, so treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies can be carried out for a long time, until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.
Among the folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis, teas made from medicinal herbs that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are widely used: tea from chamomile, sage leaves, calendula flowers, etc.Medicinal herbs are also used in the form of tinctures and balms.Honey and bee products are used as general tonics.Beeswax is perfect for wraps in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin.Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulating agent, and some types of honey are successfully used for the same purpose.