Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland.Currently, urologists tend to believe that prostatitis is not a single disease, but combines several diseases of the male reproductive system.This is one of the most common pathologies of the male urogenital tract and, according to experts, the percentage of men who suffer from prostatitis in one form or another is constantly growing.With age, the risk of developing prostatitis increases.
Causes of prostatitis
The direct cause of prostatitis are two factors of equal importance.The first is the occurrence of congestion in the pelvis and, consequently, in the prostate, and 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 is attacked by the cells of its own immune system as a result of a malfunction that has occurred in it.
The predisposing factors for the occurrence of inflammation in the prostate 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 sex 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 complete 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 - disease in which no infection is detected, lasting more than 3 months;
- Subcategory III A. Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes are detected in prostate secretion);
- Subcategory III B. Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (there are no leukocytes in prostate secretion);
- Category IV.Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (leukocytes are present in the prostate secretion, the patient has no complaints, the disease is detected by chance).
Prostatitis symptoms
There is the so-called “prostatitis triad”, the three most common symptoms of prostatitis.These include:
- pain in the pelvic and genital areas;
- urinary disorders, which include slow stream, intermittent stream, 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 mandatory;Furthermore, acute and chronic prostatitis proceed differently.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis: intense and sharp pain in the prostate, which radiates to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back;deterioration in general condition, fever, headache and muscle pain, general weakness;disturbance of urination up to acute urinary retention as a result of swelling of the prostate and compression of the urethra.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate, but less intense than in acute prostatitis;urinary 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 subsidence, or it can have constantly mild symptoms.
Unlike other inflammatory diseases, when a chronic process is a consequence of untreated acute inflammation, chronic prostatitis is usually primary chronic, when the patient himself has difficulty determining the onset of the disease.
Prostatitis diagnosis
To diagnose prostatitis, the following studies are carried out:
- analysis of prostate secretion;
- digital rectal examination;
- transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
- blood test for PSA (prostate antigen);
- general blood test;
- general urinalysis;
- urine test for urogenital infections before and after prostate massage;
- uroflowmetry (micturition study).
The main thing in diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, as therapeutic measures depend on this.Another diagnostic task is to exclude prostate cancer.
Prostatitis treatment
Acute and chronic prostatitis of bacterial origin is treated with antibacterial drugs.Powerful doses of antibiotics are prescribed for acute prostatitis even before obtaining culture results, since an acute process requires immediate action.In combination, non-steroidal 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 immunomodulatory drugs are taken.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out with the obligatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, ultrasound, etc.
Urologists claim that treating prostatitis only with medical means will only lead to temporary relief, since without changing the usual lifestyle, prostatitis treatment is ineffective.It is necessary to give up bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate a sedentary lifestyle, avoid pelvic congestion with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, move more on foot and also get enough rest.
It is also important to improve your sex life, making it regular, and eating well.Chronic prostatitis is prone to relapses, so lifestyle changes must 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 and successfully used to treat prostatitis, especially for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.They act more mildly than medications, but they are still quite effective and have fewer side effects, which is why prostatitis treatment with folk remedies can be carried out for a long time, until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.
Among folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis, teas made from medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are widely used: chamomile tea, sage leaves, calendula flowers, etc.Honey and bee products are used as general tonics.Beeswax is perfect for wraps in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin.Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulating agent, and some types of honey are used successfully for the same purpose.