We collected 22 basic questions about prostatitis and its treatment. All answers were written by our leading male health professional, andrologist. We hope this article helps you and provides the answers you need to your questions.
Symptoms of prostatitis: pain, burning, discharge, stinging, incontinence
The symptoms of prostatitis are most commonly of 3 types:
- violation of urination: difficult, frequent, nocturnal urination.
- symptoms of pain: pain in the perineum, lower abdomen, groin. The pain can radiate (enter) into the scrotum or sacrum.
- a mixed form in which urinary disorders and pain occur.
What causes prostatitis?
With bacterial prostatitis
The infection enters the prostate gland from neighboring organs:
- urethra;
- Bladder
- from distant inflammatory focus (tonsillitis, sinusitis, caries) through the blood and lymphatics.
The most common bacteria detected in prostatitis are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus.
The role of sexually transmitted infections is discussed: chlamydia, mycoplasma, Trichomonas.
The activity of the inflammatory process and, accordingly, its manifestation depends on the properties of the microorganism, the condition of the pelvic organs, their circulation, concomitant diseases and other predisposing factors.
With non-bacterial prostatitis
Stagnation plays an important role. Violation of blood flow causes edema, secretion of prostate tissue, and creates conditions for the development of an inflammatory process that is not related to a bacterial agent.
STDs and prostatitis
The issue of the involvement of sexually transmitted infections in the development of prostatitis is widely debated in the scientific community. There is no consensus on this issue.
We see ourselves as supporters of a direct link between infections, the development and course of prostatitis.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Prostatitis does not pose a threat to a patient’s life, the process is chronic and impairs quality of life.
Onset of prostatitis. How do we define it? First signs
The first signs of prostatitis are a change in the nature of urination: heavy, frequent urination, frequent urination stimuli, especially at night. Uncomfortable urination and varying degrees of pain in the lumbar region.
The age of prostatitis? Is it a disease of young people and / or the elderly?
Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease and can occur at any age. However, prostate adenoma or hyperplasia is an age-related disease in men over 50 years of age and is associated with the development of benign prostate cancer.
Chronic prostatitis. Is it possible to heal?
The presence of a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis refers to the presence of changes in the structure of the tissues of the gland that survive. Like all chronic diseases, prostatitis is associated with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission - a period when the patient is not worried about anything. With proper treatment and lifestyle, remission periods can be very long and complaints will never again bother the patient.
Bacterial and other types of prostatitis
There are various classifications, the most commonly used being developed by the United States Institute of Health in 1995:
- Category I.Acute prostatitis.
- II. category.Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- III. category.Non-bacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome - lasting 3 months or more without obvious signs of infection.
- Subcategory IIIA.Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes in prostate secretion and pathogen secretion).
- Subcategory III B.Chronic, non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (no leukocytes in the secret of the prostate).
- ARC. category.Asymptomatic prostatitis (leukocytes in the secret of the prostate, but without complaints).
For ease of understanding, the classification can be divided into 3 types:
Acute prostatitis- causes severe pain, fever, urinary disorders. The secret of the prostate is the large number of leukocytes, which indicates a clear inflammatory process. It usually occurs for the first time in a given patient. If these symptoms occur in a patient with chronic prostatitis, they are called an exacerbation of the chronic prostatitis.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis- Symptoms of intermittent disturbance to patients are generally less pronounced than in acute prostatitis. By diagnosing the growth of leukocytes in the secret of the prostate, it is possible to identify the pathogen of inflammation.
The most problematic in terms of diagnosis isnon-bacterial prostatitis, or so calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome. . . This is due to the fact that the complaints are very similar to inflammation of the prostate, but are related to diseases of other organs and systems in which no signs of inflammation and pathogenic bacteria can be detected: pelvic muscle spasm, bladder muscles and sphincter, anatomical abnormalitiesnarrowing (s), leading to inflammation due to increased pressure in the lobes of the prostate gland.
Who treats prostatitis - andrologist or urologist?
Prostatitis is treated by both a urologist and an andrologist.
An andrologist is a urologist who specializes in male reproductive and reproductive diseases.
Methods and treatment regimens for prostatitis
Each treatment regimen for the prostate gland consists of the following medications:
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- biogenic stimulants
- medications that improve the contraction of the prostate and bladder while relaxing the sphincter.
Good results can be achieved with the simultaneous appointment of drugs and physiotherapy (prostate massage, complexes for the treatment of prostatitis).
What tests are done for prostatitis?
Becausediagnosis of prostatitisurologist (andrologist) consultation is required for patient complaints, collection of medical history, microscopic examination of prostate secretions, and ultrasound diagnosis.
For diagnosis, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate gland (TRUS) and prostate secretions obtained after prostate massage are used for microscopic examination.
In addition, the secretion of prostate secretions onto the bacterial flora can be used to determine the susceptibility of the nucleus microflora to antibiotics.
Surgical procedures and surgeries for prostatitis
In case of prostatitis, the operations are practically not used. With the exception of the prostate abscess, a process in which foci of pus are formed.
Is it possible to cure prostatitis yourself?
In case of severe symptoms, it is better to consult a specialist, the time factor plays a big role in the treatment, as the longer the inflammation lasts, the more likely it is that irreversible changes will occur in the organ.
But you better do the prevention yourself, no doctor will do it for you.
Avoid hypothermia, congestion during prolonged sessions, sexually transmitted infections, and irregular sexual activity are all effective ways to prevent prostatitis.
Anti-prostatitis drugs: finalgon, vitaprost, prostamol, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, omnix and others
Drugs for the treatment of prostatitis are divided into groups according to their mechanism of action:
Antibacterial drugsprescribed only on diagnosis: chronic bacterial prostatitis. The most commonly used fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and drugs in the doxycycline group.
Alpha blockers:It is prescribed to restore urinary incontinence by increasing bladder contraction and relaxing the detrusor.
Large groupbiogenic stimulants and herbal preparations: candles.
Effective treatment is only possible with a correct diagnosis, as there is no universal cure for all types of prostatitis. Patients often take medications to treat prostatitis if they have a completely different disease but with similar symptoms.
Nuts, roots, parsley, cucumber, honey, bees, leeches and other folk treatments for prostatitis
Traditional treatment methods have a right to exist, but you have to understand that it is very difficult to choose the folk method that is right for you. Upon request, the search engine returns 70 million hits for the treatment of prostatitis by folk methods.
No one has researched the effectiveness of folk methods. The fact that you have helped a patient with such treatment (and whether it has helped) does not mean that it will help you.
Exacerbation of prostatitis after treatment. Remission, relapse
All chronic inflammatory processes have periods of exacerbation and remission when the patient is not worried about anything. The duration of remission can vary and depends on a number of factors, including whether the patient is receiving prophylactic treatment. Patients who regularly receive prophylactic treatment without waiting for deterioration in well-being tend to have fewer exacerbations.
Prostate massage at home. Is massage always necessary in case of prostatitis?
Prostate massage can also be performed at home if you are the spouse of a urological nurse. Every medical manipulation has its own subtleties and nuances. The indication for this procedure can only be determined by a doctor, so for some diseases: prostate adenoma (in case of acute urinary retention) prostate massage is undesirable, and in case of tumors it is contraindicated.
Alcohol and prostatitis
Alcohol alone does not cause prostatitis, but it is a factor that increases prostate congestion and swelling and thus contributes to its development.
Sex life and prostatitis
There is a direct relationship between the intensity of sexual activity and prostate disease. Prolonged abstinence in the prostate results in stagnation, which impairs metabolic processes and disrupts blood microcirculation, contributing to the development of inflammatory processes. Regularity is more important for prostate health than the intensity of sexual intercourse. The fastest way to treat prostatitis is through excessive sexual intercourse, especially with different partners and unprotected from infections.
Does Prostatitis Affect Women?
Of course, this affects the health of a woman with prostatitis in a partner. The prostate, along with the seminal vesicles, produces a liquid component of the sperm that enters the partner's genital tract during intercourse. The main danger may be the presence of a sexually transmitted infection or bacterial prostatitis, which can cause inflammatory diseases in a woman.
Pregnancy and prostatitis
Because the prostate gland produces the liquid part of the sperm that contains nutrients for the sperm, inflammation of the prostate often causes a deterioration in the quality of the sperm, making it difficult to conceive.
Prevention. What to do to avoid prostatitis?
Prevention is directly related to the patient’s climate and profession.
Prevention of prostatitis is the avoidance and minimization of factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis. Hypothermia, sedentary work and periods of physical activity should be avoided. Regular sex life is important in prostatitis.