Prostatitis

15 November 2026

Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate gland (prostate) that develops due to inflammatory changes in it.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease reaches 35-50% and is detected in men aged 20-40 years.

Species

There are 4 forms of prostatitis:

acute (bacterial);
chronic bacteria;
chronic non-bacterial;
chronic without symptoms.

Acute prostatitis is very rare because of the rapid inflammatory process and the immediate transition to the chronic stage (false improvement).

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, or called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be inflammatory (with increased leukocyte content in urine and ejaculate) and non-inflammatory.

The reasons

Causes of acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi).The most common sources of inflammation are:

bra;
streptococcus;
staphylococci;
Proteus;
Klebsiella;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
agents that cause sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonococci, trichomonas, cytomegalovirus and others).

Most microorganisms are found in the intestines, on the skin, but when they enter the prostate tissue, they cause an inflammatory process.As a rule, the cause of the disease is not a single pathogen, but an association of several types of microbes.

The development of chronic prostatitis can be triggered by the following factors:

concomitant diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
sedentary lifestyle ("sedentary work");
tendency to constipation;
weakens the body's defenses;
injury;
hormonal imbalance;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
free association;
irregular sex life (long-term abstinence);
disturbed sexual relations;
irregular bladder emptying;
unsatisfied sexual desire;
chronic stress;
hypothermia;
the presence of dental caries and other sources of chronic infection (for example, chronic tonsillitis).

Symptoms of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is a very dangerous disease.It is quite difficult to "catch" it, because, firstly, the process quickly becomes chronic, and secondly, most patients prefer to "sit" acute prostatitis manifestations at home.Patients with prostate inflammation often consult a doctor in advanced cases with erectile dysfunction and other consequences.

The acute form of the disease occurs against the background of:

high temperature;
shivering;
other signs of intoxication (weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.).

Inflammation of the prostate gland is accompanied by pain in the perineum, groin area and scrotum.

Painful and frequent urination is also typical.Sometimes whitish purulent discharge can be seen in the urine.

In addition, patients may notice the absence of night and morning erections, low-quality erections during intimacy and sharp shortening of sexual intercourse.

Common symptoms of urinary disorders appear: weak urine flow and frequent urges, even if little urine is produced.

After that, if there is no treatment, chronic prostatitis reaches its peak: sexual dysfunction appears.For example:

insufficient erection or its absence;
painful erection, for which the patient avoids sexual intercourse;
suppression of libido;
short sex;
painful ejaculation.

Chronic abacterial prostatitis accounts for 95% of all prostatitis;it mainly affects men aged about 30 years.It is characterized by constant or periodic pain in the pelvis, prostate, and scrotum, without signs of inflammation in laboratory tests.The causes of the disease have not been established precisely.

Diagnostics

When diagnosing acute and chronic prostatitis, in addition to collecting complaints, anamnesis and examining the patient, the following methods are used:

general blood and urine analysis;
microscopic examination of prostate secretions and their inoculation on a nutrient medium to identify pathogens (secretions are obtained after digital massage of the prostate gland through the rectum);
cytological examination of urine;
Ultrasound of the prostate and pelvic organs;
computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI);
smear from the urethra for microflora.

Differential diagnosis aims to distinguish between prostatitis, prostate adenoma, prostate cancer, and signs of stones in the prostate gland.

A complete list of diagnostic procedures and medications for the treatment of prostatitis is in the 2012 Federal Standards of Care.

Treatment of prostatitis

The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.Do not try to treat yourself - seek the advice of a doctor.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out by a urological surgeon.

The goal of etiotropic treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of prostatitis is to eliminate the pathogen.Depending on the identified cause, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal drugs are prescribed.The duration of therapy for acute prostatitis is 7-10 days, for chronic process - 4-8 weeks.

To treat bacterial infections, the following are used: