Prostatitis is 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 suffering from prostatitis in one form or another is constantly growing.With age, the risk of getting prostatitis increases.
Causes of prostatitis
The direct causes of prostatitis are two equally important factors.The first is the occurrence of congestion in the pelvis, and as a result, in the prostate, and the second is the addition of infection.However, in some cases it is not possible to detect infectious pathogens in prostate tissue;probably in such cases, the cause of prostatitis is an autoimmune process, which means that the prostate gland is attacked by the cells of its own immune system as a result of the damage that has occurred in it.
Predisposing factors for the occurrence of inflammation in the prostate gland are: weak immunity due to infection, hypothermia, stress;hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, physical inactivity, food preference (addiction to fried, fatty, smoked, spicy food), frequent urinary retention.Irregular sex life is considered one of the common causes of prostatitis.
Types of prostatitis
Currently, the international classification of prostatitis has been adopted, which is the most complete and includes all types of inflammation:
- Category I. Acute prostatitis;
- Category II.Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III.Non-bacterial chronic 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 detected in prostate secretion);
- Subcategory III B. Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (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).
Symptoms of prostatitis
There is the so-called "prostatitis triad", the three most common symptoms of prostatitis.These include:
- pain in the pelvis and genitals;
- urinary disorders, which include wet 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 mandatory;in addition, acute and chronic prostatitis occur differently.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe and sharp pain in the prostate gland, which radiates to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back;deterioration of the general condition, fever, headache and muscle pain, general weakness;urinary disorders up to acute urinary retention due to swelling of the prostate gland and compression of the urethra.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate gland, but less intense than 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 aggravation are followed by periods of decline, or it can have symptoms that are always mild.
Unlike other inflammatory diseases, when the chronic process is the result of untreated acute inflammation, chronic prostatitis is often primary chronic, when the patient himself finds it difficult to determine the onset of the disease.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
To diagnose prostatitis, the following studies are performed:
- prostate secretion analysis;
- digital rectal examination;
- transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
- Kidney and bladder ultrasound;
- blood test for PSA (prostate antigen);
- general blood test;
- general urinalysis;
- urine test for urogenital infection before and after prostate massage;
- uroflowmetry (urine study).
The main thing in diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, because 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.A strong dose of antibiotics is prescribed for acute prostatitis, even before culture results are obtained, because the 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 causes it.For non-bacterial prostatitis, restorative and immunomodulatory 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 claim that the treatment of prostatitis by medical means only will lead to temporary relief, because without changing the usual lifestyle, the treatment of prostatitis is ineffective.It is necessary to abandon bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate physical inactivity, avoid congestion in the pelvis 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, make it regular, and eat well.Chronic prostatitis is prone to relapse, so changes in lifestyle should remain, 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 drugs, but are still quite effective and have fewer side effects, so the treatment of prostatitis 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 that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are widely used: teas from chamomile, 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 suitable for bandages in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin.Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulating agent, and several types of honey are successfully used for the same purpose.