Prostatitis is a specific disease, typical mainly for men of reproductive age. It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate - a man's second "heart".
It is not always easy to recognize the signs of prostatitis in men, especially if the pathology has a chronic course, without a previous acute stage. If the process is acute, then in this case the symptoms of prostatitis in men will be quite typical and pronounced.
If a man has the first signs of prostatitis, he should immediately consult a doctor. Even mild discomfort, indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system, can have serious complications.
The ability to recognize the first symptoms of the inflammatory process allows a timely diagnosis of the pathology and the initiation of its treatment. Therefore, every man should familiarize himself with them to avoid serious problems that prostatitis leads to.
The prostate and its role in a man's life
Although the prostate is small, if its function is impaired, a man can have many problems. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located between the penis and bladder. The prostate produces a secret that mixes with sperm to form complete seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate conditions, such as prostatic hypertrophy or cancer, which usually affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but the incidence peaks between 30 and 50 years of age.
types of prostatitis
According to the severity of the symptoms, the time of occurrence and the duration of the disease, two variants of the pathology are distinguished:
- Chronic prostatitis. Symptoms can be subtle and come and go over the course of several months. This is the most common type of prostatitis and the causes of inflammation are usually not infectious.
- Acute prostatitis. In this form, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and develop suddenly. This variant of the disease most often causes a microbial infection, the condition can be serious and requires immediate treatment, including hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis problems
The causes of prostatitis have been studied for a long time, but the understanding of the essence of the process has been significantly revised in recent years. Chronic prostatitis, sometimes referred to alternatively as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a cluster of symptoms that can cause a significant deterioration in men's daily quality of life. It is not always possible for a doctor to immediately determine chronic prostatitis, and the subsequent treatment is no less difficult to choose, as it depends on various causative factors and the symptoms of prostatitis in men.
Unlike approaches used in the past, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are based on separating chronic bacterial prostatitis from other forms of the disease, which is considered a multifactorial disease. According to data published in Research and Reports in Urology in 2019, autoimmunity and systemic inflammation, nervous system dysfunctions, and psychological causes play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
For chronic pelvic pain syndrome, various symptoms associated with Organs urinary organs, genitals, rectum and perineum are typical, and often men can be treated for a long time for other pathologies, until in the end it is discovered that the problem is in the inflammation. of the prostate.
Signs of prostatitis in men
If acute inflammation of the prostate occurs, it is relatively easy to recognize, the manifestations are quite bright and pronounced. Early signs of prostatitis in men include:
- intense pain that radiates around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back. Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- urinary problems, pain when the bladder is full, needing to urinate frequently (especially at night), interrupted urination, urgent need to urinate, and sometimes blood in the urine;
- against the background of severe swelling of the prostate and severe pain, acute urinary retention is possible;
- malaise, fever, nausea;
- light, thick discharge from the urethra, odorless.
If these or other signs of prostatitis in men are detected, you should immediately contact a therapist or urologist.
Chronic inflammation: symptoms of prostatitis in men
You can talk about a chronic process if the following symptoms of prostatitis in men have been detected in at least the last three months:
- pain around the penis, in the testicles, anus, lower abdomen or lower back of a pulling, pressing or aching nature.
- pain when urinating, frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night, or intermittent urination.
- an enlarged or tender prostate on rectal examination, although it may be normal in some cases.
- intimate problems such as erectile dysfunction, pain during ejaculation or pelvic pain after intercourse.
These symptoms can have a significant impact on a man's quality of life. Without treatment, the condition can gradually get worse, the symptoms of prostatitis appear more often.
How is the exam performed?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men, you need to contact a urologist who will carry out a comprehensive diagnosis. The doctor will ask in detail about all symptoms and events, health problems that precede them. Next, an examination of Organs genitals, abdomen and digital rectal examination will be performed. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate. During the study, discomfort is possible if the prostate is enlarged or inflamed. In addition, blood and urine tests are ordered to look for signs of infection.
How is prostatitis treated?
Treatment tactics for prostatitis will depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
For acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, pain relievers and antibiotics are usually given for 2 to 4 weeks. If acute urinary retention occurs, hospitalization and urgent measures are necessary - bladder catheterization with urine diversion in the context of intensive care.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis, when symptoms come and go over several months, is usually aimed at eliminating all discomfort. Your doctor may suggest the following procedures:
- analgesics and anti-inflammatories that eliminate pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blocking drugs that eliminate problems with urination. They help relax the prostate muscles and the base of the bladder.
- antibiotics can sometimes be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or there are indications that there was previously an acute process that has not been cured.
The goal of treating chronic prostatitis is to reduce symptoms to a level where they do not interfere with daily activities.