The most common pathology of the genitourinary system in men is inflammatory prostate disease. According to statistics, prostatitis is diagnosed in every 10 patients of mature age. Without adequate treatment, the disease progresses rapidly, leading to serious complications and affecting a man’s sex life.
Symptoms of the disease
Every disease is easier to treat when diagnosed at an early stage. Prostatitis occurs in both acute and complicated forms - chronic, which occurs in the case of neglected inflammation of the prostate. The symptoms and treatment of the disease vary and depend on its stage and type. In the acute course of pathology, the man experiences:
- Difficulty urinating. One of the first signs is problems with the passage of urine due to narrowing of the ureter. In the early stages, the prostate begins to grow in size and gently compresses the ducts.
- Pain in the lower abdomen, which is most often disrupted after physical exertion or at the end of the day. Pain in sensation and intensity is different: it can be pulling, cutting, pain. They then spread through the scrotum and penis, and are given into the rectum during defecation. The disease causes constipation, which only intensifies the inflammatory process in the prostate.
- Frequent urination. A person who has not previously woken up to empty his bladder can go to the toilet 1-2 times during the night at the beginning of the disease. With the transition of prostatitis to another form, the urge to urinate decreases. It gives the impression of overcrowding of the bladder, and after going to the toilet - incomplete emptying.
- Visual change in urine. Impurities of pus or blood can be detected in the urine in the early stages of pathology development.
- Occurrence of sexual dysfunction. Men have erection problems and severe pain during ejaculation.
- Prolonged increase in body temperature in the range of 39 degrees, which is accompanied by shivering, weakness and pain in the body.
Most of the symptoms of the disease are clearly expressed. The task of men is to carefully monitor the condition of their body and its changes, not to miss the first signs and not to allow the pathology to develop into a chronic phase.
The first manifestations of prostate inflammation in members of the stronger sex in a neglected form are almost the same as in the acute phase of the disease. But they are accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Decreased libido, loss of erection during intercourse, detection of blood in semen.
- Frequent urge to urinate, fullness of the bladder, white flakes in the urine. During an exacerbation, a man may be completely deprived of the ability to empty his bladder, because an inflamed prostate blocks the passage of urine in the urethra.
- Depression, insomnia or drowsiness. Men suffering from diseases like prostatitis often experience attacks of anger or aggression associated with psycho-emotional disorder.
In order to avoid mistakes in making the correct diagnosis, it makes sense to be examined by several doctors and in different institutions. Symptoms and treatment of prostatitis, as well as any other disease of the genitourinary system, is not a problem that should be delayed or save on health.
Reasons for development
It is almost impossible to determine the main cause of the pathology. At the same time, there are not so few provoking factors, each of them is very serious, especially considering the male habit of neglecting health. Main reasons:
- Congestion formation in the pelvic region. They are characterized by slowed blood circulation, in which tissue nutrition deteriorates, edema occurs and capillary function is disturbed.
- Hypothermia. By freezing even once, men themselves cause the development of prostatitis.
- Sedentary lifestyle, in which representatives of the stronger half sit in one position for hours. No less harmful factor is the work associated with vibrations (tractor drivers, drivers). With constant shaking, the perineum is injured and the organs in the pelvic region are weakened, creating additional conditions for inflammation to occur.
- Transmitted venereal diseases. Sexually transmitted infections cannot bypass the prostate. Even after treatment, immunity decreases and the prostate becomes vulnerable.
- Stool retention. Constipation creates increased stress when emptying the rectum, traumatizing the prostate. In addition, stagnation intensifies and reverse absorption of toxins occurs, including the narrowly located prostate.
- Extremes in intimate life. Lack and excess of sex have an equally negative effect on reproductive health. Excessive activity of the prostate consumes it, and abstinence increases stagnation in it.
- Termination of sexual intercourse. As a method of contraception, it is recognized as ineffective and impairs men's health. Attempts to control the physiological process that is already underway are very harmful.
- Alcohol abuse, malnutrition. These two factors lead to prostate swelling and the appearance of malignant neoplasms.
- Urological diseases. Due to the close anatomical connection with the reproductive system, inflammatory processes in the urinary system can penetrate slightly lower and affect the prostate.
By identifying the causes that contributed to the onset of inflammation, the urologist individually selects the treatment, excluding harmful factors.
Methods of treatment
Treatment of prostatitis must be comprehensive. After diagnosing the disease, the doctor, as a rule, prescribes an individual treatment regimen. It takes the patient at least 4-6 months to achieve a positive effect. Today, many different methods are used for treatment, including drug therapy, the use of physiotherapy procedures and massage. In official medicine, these methods are recognized as the most effective and safest for the health of the stronger sex.
Qualified psychotherapy is considered an equally important measure, because the constant painful sensations and problems that have arisen in intimate life negatively affect not only the general well-being of the patient, but also his mental state.
Medical therapy
Surgical treatment is indicated in cases where medical measures have not led to results or the prostate blocks the outflow of urine. Surgery can lead to infertility, so it is not prescribed to young men.
In infectious prostatitis, antibacterial therapy is performed. When the pathology is not caused by bacteria or viruses, antibiotic treatment is considered pointless. Alpha-blockers are used to relax the prostate muscles, improve urine outflow and relieve pain in the perineal region.
Muscle relaxants will help reduce pain and eliminate muscle tension in the pelvic region. Serious patients are prescribed drops with diuretics, which contribute to the abundant release of urine and prevent further intoxication of the body.
The course of treatment should be completed, even if the symptoms of the disease disappear completely. Signs of prostatitis often disappear at the very beginning of antibiotic therapy, but when treatment is stopped, they become chronic.
Nonbacterial prostatitis requires a different treatment regimen. It consists of taking analgesics and antipyretics.
Simultaneously with the main treatment, the urologist prescribes supportive therapy that includes resting in bed, drinking plenty of water and sitting baths. Patients should follow a diet that limits alcohol, caffeine, fatty and spicy foods.
For chronic inflammation of the prostate, the most effective remedy is regular prostate massage, which reduces the likelihood of re-inflammation. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions. Contraindications for the procedure are rectal cancer and worsening prostatitis.
Physiotherapy is used not only as a treatment, but also for prevention. Improves blood circulation, increases muscle tone, accelerates tissue regeneration and increases cell permeability. The use of this method in high blood pressure, fever, epilepsy, cancer, urolithiasis, anemia, kidney disease and cardiovascular system is prohibited.
The use of rectal suppositories reduces the negative impact on the functioning of internal organs. Suppositories may contain antibiotics, herbs, antispasmodics. They remove swelling, relieve inflammation and restore urination.
Folk ways
Therapy of pathology at home using prescriptions of alternative medicine is effective only at an early stage. There are many ways to eliminate the main symptoms of inflammation:
- Roasted pumpkin seeds (500 g) are twisted in a meat grinder, then honey (200 g) is added and mixed well. From a mixture of pumpkin and honey, balls no bigger than walnuts are made. Dissolve half an hour before each meal, 1 piece for 2-3 minutes. The product is stored in the refrigerator. Pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of zinc, which is necessary to maintain the normal functioning of the genitourinary system.
- Crushed and dried aspen bark (100 g) is placed in a half-liter jar and poured with vodka (200 g). The container is well closed, left to soak in a dark place. After two weeks, the tincture is filtered and drink 20 drops, diluted in a quarter cup of water, 3 times daily before meals.
- Honey (1 teaspoon), egg (1 teaspoon) are mixed with rye flour (3 tablespoons), thin suppositories are made from the dough, the diameter of which must not exceed 1 cm. Candles are kept in the refrigerator. They are inserted into the anus in the morning and in the evening after emptying the rectum. The course of treatment is about 4 weeks, then there is a break and the therapy is repeated.
- Small onion (3 pieces) is rubbed on a fine grater, poured over boiling water (3 tablespoons) and insist for one day. The decoction is taken in 50 ml every hour.
- Pine branches (200 g) together with boiled water (2 l) are simmered over low heat for 2-3 hours. After boiling, the decoction turns into an extract. Prepare such a concentrate just before a warm bath. The water level should not be higher than the middle of the chest. The pelvic area is rubbed with the medicine for 15 minutes until redness appears. Therapy is carried out daily for 2 weeks. Baths have an antimicrobial effect, anesthetize and improve urination.
As good as the effect of folk remedies is, it is difficult for them to compete with the achievements of pharmacology. The most correct and effective solution will be an integrated approach to the treatment of prostatitis.