Chronic prostatitis: symptoms of the disease, prevention and treatment

Chronic prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate that affects men of all ages. In most cases, it occurs due to exposure to the prostate gland from 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 the lack of regular sexual activity.

What role does the prostate gland play in the body?

The chestnut-shaped prostate is located under the bladder. It prevents the entry of seminal fluid and also produces secretion from the prostate, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common cause of chronic inflammation of the prostate are infections and sexually transmitted pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. In addition, the development of such prostatitis contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. But prostatitis itself is not as 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 various ways: through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in one's body.
2. Circulatory disorders in the prostate glandor the stagnation of its 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. An exacerbation is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, errors in diet (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 need to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constant or at the time of urination);
• intermittent or slow urine flow;
• reduced duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic / permanent absence of morning (spontaneous) erection;
• pain of a pulling nature in the head of the 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, against the background of inflammation of the prostate, infertility and impotence develop.

Diagnosis of the disease

Laboratory and instrumental tests are required for an accurate diagnosis. Includes:

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

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

This disease causes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate a man's life:

• Urination disorders: frequent urination during the day and at night, weak urinary flow, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, colliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and the seminal tubercle.
• Gland abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgery.
• Prostate sclerosis - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, consequently, prostate stones.
• 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 is from a prostate tissue extract. Its use gives a quick result and the elimination of symptoms.

Since therapy is expected to be complex, other drugs should also be used:

• antibacterial,
• alpha blockers,
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There are no universal medicines. Therefore, doctors can recommend antibacterial drugs of different groups. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others. All of them 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 spasm. In fact they do not cure, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.

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

A drug	Benefits	disadvantages	Recommendations for use
Fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into the 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 for use.
diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into the prostate tissue. They do not require dosage selection. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria.	Second-line drugs.
Macrolides	Moderate activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Activity against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into the 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 cure for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base, there are drugs derived from 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 urination process.
• Improve the functional state of the prostate gland.
• By reducing congestion, reducing 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 the blood vessels.
• Decrease in the concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate the 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 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, unbalanced nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Healing procedures:

• prostatic massageperformed manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
• Physiotherapy procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and absorption of drugs into the tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasonic warming and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
• Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, that is, with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostatitis, low mineralization water is usually prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• Diet therapy.You should start adhering to a special diet already at the first signs of prostatitis. First of all, you should give up alcoholic beverages, as 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 sweets 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 those that contribute to gas formation, such as cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and nuts.

Preventive measures

Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads the right lifestyle: he follows the diet, plays sports, and so on. 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 recurrence (exacerbation) of existing chronic prostatitis.

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

Secondary preventionit involves regular examination by a urologist and preventive treatment: multivitamins, restorative drugs, sports.

such asprophylactic drugprostate diseases, suppositories can be used.