Prostatitis is an 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.It 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.The risk of developing prostatitis increases with age.
Causes of prostatitis
The direct cause of prostatitis are two factors of equal importance.The first is congestion of the pelvis and, consequently, the prostate, the second is the addition of an infection.However, in some cases it is not possible to detect an infectious pathogen in prostate tissues;presumably in these cases the cause of prostatitis is autoimmune processes, which means that the prostate gland is attacked by the cells of its own immune system due to a malfunction that has occurred in it.
Factors predisposing to the onset of inflammation in the prostate gland are: weakened immunity due to infection, hypothermia, stress;hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, physical inactivity, food preferences (addiction to fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods), frequent urinary retention.Irregular sexual life is considered one of the most common causes of prostatitis.
Types of prostatitis
Currently, an international classification of prostatitis has been adopted, which is the most comprehensive and covers all types of inflammation:
- Category I. Acute prostatitis;
- Category II.Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III.Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome - a disease in which the 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 (no leukocytes present in prostatic secretion);
- Category IV.Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis (leukocytes are present in the secretion of the prostate, 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 slow flow, intermittent flow, 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 obligatory;moreover, acute and chronic prostatitis manifest themselves differently.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis: strong, sharp pain in the prostate gland, radiating to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back;deterioration of general condition, fever, headache and muscle pain, general weakness;urination disorders up to acute urinary retention due to swelling of the prostate and compression of the urethra.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: prostate pain, but less intense than 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 subsiding, or it can have consistently 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 has difficulty determining the onset of the disease.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
To diagnose prostatitis, the following studies are performed:
- analysis of prostate secretion;
- digital rectal exam;
- transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
- blood test for PSA (prostate antigen);
- general blood test;
- general urinalysis;
- urine tests for urogenital infections before and after prostate massage;
- uroflowmetry (study of urination).
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.In case of acute prostatitis, potent doses of antibiotics are prescribed even before the culture results are obtained, since an acute process requires immediate action.In combination, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory 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 mandatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, ultrasound, etc.
Urologists argue that treatment of prostatitis by medical means alone will lead to only temporary relief, since without changing the usual lifestyle, treatment of prostatitis is ineffective.It is necessary to abandon bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate physical inactivity, avoid congestion of the pelvis with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, move more on foot and get enough rest.
It is also important to improve your sexual life, making it regular and eating well.Chronic prostatitis is prone to relapses, so changes in lifestyle should be permanent, only in this case the treatment of prostatitis will lead to a complete cure.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Traditional methods are widely used successfully for the treatment of prostatitis, especially for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.They act more gently than drugs, 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 based on medicinal herbs that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are widely used: chamomile tea, 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 compresses 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.