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

What role does the prostate play in the body?

The chestnut-shaped prostate is located below the bladder. It prevents the entry of semen into it, and also produces the secretion of the prostate, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common causes of chronic prostatitis are sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. Also, a sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of such prostatitis. But prostatitis itself is not as terrible as the fact that this disease is the trigger for the development of more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

Causes of the disease also include:

• frequent hypothermia;
• low immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• the presence of a person's bad habits;
• pelvic 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, through the flow of blood or lymph from the source of infection or inflamed organs in your own body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostateor stagnation of its secrecy, which occur in the following cases:
   • prolonged sexual abstinence;
   • often interrupted sexual intercourse or unrequited arousal;
   • defective ejaculation.

Stress, alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in the male body. Worsening is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, dietary errors (too 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 urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constant or at the time of urination);
• intermittent or slow stream of urine;
• decreased duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic / permanent absence of morning erection (spontaneous);
• traction pain in the glans 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, vesiculitis. Over time, infertility and impotence develop on the background of prostate inflammation.

Diagnosis of the disease

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

• general urine analysis,
• general blood test,
• study of prostate secretion,
• bacteriological examination of prostate secretions to identify the microflora with determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs,
• blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate,
• 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 day and night urination, weak urine output, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, coliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercles.
• Glandular abscess is a severe pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgical intervention.
• Prostate sclerosis - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, as a consequence, a stone in the prostate.
• Impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

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

Since the therapy should be complex, other drugs must be used:

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

There are no universal remedies. 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 - drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostatic urethra and bladder neck, facilitate the outflow of urine by relieving cramps. In fact, they do not cure, but only remove the painful symptoms of inflammation.

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

Drugs	Benefits	shortcomings	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.
Diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into prostate tissue. They do not require dose selection. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria.	Second-line drugs.
Macrolides	Moderate activity against gram-positive bacteria. Action against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into prostate tissue. Low toxicity.	Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria.	It is used for specific pathogens.
Tetracyclines	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	It is used for specific pathogens.

An effective remedy for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base are drugs from bovine prostate tissue extract. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in treating both 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.
• Reduction of congestion, reduction of prostate edema.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalization of full blood circulation in the pelvic area, reducing the likelihood of blood clots in blood vessels.
• Decreased concentration of leukocytes infiltrating prostate tissue.

Methods of treatment of chronic prostatitis

In most cases, chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. But it should be borne in mind that therapy will bring quick positive results only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that causes the disease, otherwise recurrence is likely. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Treatment procedures:

• prostate massageperformed manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the efficiency 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 ultrasonic heating and irrigation with antibacterial solution with the help of enemas.
• Balneotherapy.In many spas, this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, ie 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 should give up alcoholic beverages, because ethyl alcohol irritates the prostate ducts, increasing pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and pastries are prohibited.

The diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (found in seafood and pumpkin seeds). It is advisable to eat as many vegetables (other than those that contribute to the formation of gases - for example, cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and dried fruits.

Preventive measures

Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads a proper lifestyle: follow a diet, play sports and so on. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by rejecting bad habits and occasional sex.

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

Primary preventionit comes down 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 remediation of the oral cavity.

Secondary preventionprovides for regular examinations by urologists and preventive treatment - multivitamins, restorative drugs, sports.

howprophylactic drugprostate disease, suppositories may be used.