Chronic inflammation of the prostate occurs in men of any age.In most cases, the catalyst is an infectious agent: Trichomonas, Staphylococcus, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.Bacteria entering the body can cause inflammation of the urethra and prostate itself.
Chronic prostatitis is usually asymptomatic.The disease itself can only be determined after it has transformed into an acute form.The first symptoms of chronic prostatitis in men are often overlooked, a fact that also explains the late diagnosis.
Statistics show that this disease is constantly "resurrecting".More and more patients in their 30s are seeking help from urologists.
Chronic prostatitis – what is it?
The prostate is located beneath the bladder.The main function is to protect the bladder from the entry of semen and to produce prostatic secretions, an essential component of male semen.Inflammation of glandular tissue caused by infection, congestion, and other factors gradually becomes permanent.
Chronic prostatitis can lead to degenerative changes.The structure of the organization gradually deforms.Often, against the background of inflammation, stones appear in the ducts.Certain types of prostatitis can lead to the development of cancer.
An international classification system has been developed to facilitate the differentiation of different prostate diseases.
Chronic prostatitis – causes
It is generally accepted that prostate inflammation is caused by two main factors: bacterial and non-bacterial.
The first relates to the entry of pathogens and infections into the patient's body.Most commonly, the catalyst is sexually transmitted bacteria.
The second reason it occurs has nothing to do with the source of infection.Catalysts for inflammation may be:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Hormonal imbalances are associated with aging and irregular sex life.
- bad habits.
- Injury to pelvic organs.
- Stagnation caused by metabolic disorders and a sedentary lifestyle.
After prostatitis is diagnosed, the underlying cause of chronic prostatitis must be determined.The course of treatment is based on the exact cause of the inflammation.Bacterial prostatitis and non-infectious prostatitis are treated differently.
Urologists point to several other factors that worsen the condition and affect its severity:
- Sexual abstinence.
- Insufficient ejaculation (selecting interruption of intercourse as a contraceptive method).
- pressure.
- Bad habits – drinking and smoking.
- Malnutrition.
- Have had an inflammatory disease in the past.Urethritis and cystitis are often causes of chronic prostatitis.
Inflammation is accompanied by destructive changes in the prostate, which allows the disease to be divided into several categories.
Classification of chronic inflammation of the prostate
Each type of prostatitis has its own ICD-10 code - N41.For a clear diagnosis and differentiation of infections of catalysts, separate classifications B95-B97 are used.Symptom rating scales divide diseases into several groups and subgroups:
- I-Acute inflammation, accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature and fever.
- II - Chronic prostatitis caused by infectious factors.
- Class III includes disorders in which pelvic pain syndrome begins to manifest itself.Two subgroups are usually distinguished:
- IIIA - There are signs of inflammatory process.Keep fever low.
- IIIB-No inflammation.
- IV - Asymptomatic prostatitis.Deviations from normal values can only be detected by instrumental diagnostic methods.
According to ICD code:
- N41.1 was diagnosed as chronic prostatitis.
- N41.8 Inflammatory diseases of the prostate.
- N41.9 An accurate diagnosis has not yet been made.
How chronic prostatitis manifests - its symptoms
The first signs of chronic prostatitis in men appear in the late stages of the disease.Often, there are no clinical manifestations in early development.If symptoms occur, they are temporary, short-term, and of low intensity.
According to clinical manifestations, the development of prostatitis can be divided into three stages:
- The first indirect symptoms of chronic prostatitis - as mentioned before, the onset of the disease is not expressed by clearly distinguishable symptoms.Performance is subtle or completely non-existent.Signs to look out for: Burning sensation during ejaculation, decreased sexual performance, painful urination.
- Secondary symptoms of chronic inflammation of the prostate - at this stage, pathological changes in the tissue structure, the appearance of scar-like structures, and a decrease in genitourinary function.This stage is characterized by a sharp deterioration in sexual performance and urination, increased sweating, and severe pain in the pelvic area, lumbar spine, and scrotum.
- Signs of advanced disease - The prostate stops functioning normally.Healthy tissue begins to deform.The glands are enlarged.Blood and pus appear in the urine, there is a persistent feeling that the bladder is not completely empty, and trips to the toilet become more frequent at night.Erectile function decreases so much that we can talk about complete impotence.
In addition to symptoms specific to each stage of development, general signs occur throughout the course of the disease.
pain syndrome
Chronic prostatitis will have obvious symptoms when it develops to an advanced stage.The typical clinical manifestation is severe pain that does not go away on its own and requires the use of analgesics and antispasmodics.
Pain syndromes accompany the disease throughout its development period.Among the main symptoms of prostatitis, discomfort and burning in the urethra are minor and therefore often overlooked.Pain is often mistakenly attributed to radiculitis or fatigue.Symptoms usually go away after pain relief or antispasmodic medication.
Over time, the clinical manifestations become more intense.The pain syndrome manifests itself more intensely and persists even after taking painkillers.Unpleasant sensations accompany every act of urination, defecation and ejaculation.
Pain radiates from the spine to the scrotum and sometimes to the extremities, and is accompanied by cramping and numbness.Rashes, itching, and tissue burning in the prostate and genital area are the body's normal response to internal inflammation.
temperature rise
Acute chronic inflammation of the prostate accompanied by fever.The temperature rises sharply, reaching 39-40°.All indicators are stable.Even if you take antipyretics, your body temperature will not drop.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by low-grade fever.A persistent indicator of chronic inflammation, in the range of 37-37.2°.
It is strictly forbidden to lower your body temperature or take drugs to reduce external symptoms!
Difficulty urinating
The first symptoms of chronic prostatitis appear in various urinary disorders.Symptoms become more severe over time, which helps identify the disease.Symptoms of difficulty urinating:
- I often want to go to the toilet at night.
- The feeling that the bladder is not completely empty.
- Hematuria (blood in urine), purulent discharge.
- Pain during urination.
Clinical signs and the intensity of their manifestations directly influence the diagnosis and require mandatory additional studies.Symptoms may indicate other inflammatory diseases, hyperplasia, and tumors of the genitourinary system.
reproductive organ diseases
Chronic prostatitis can cause scarring and damage the blood supply.Lack of nutrients can lead to:
- Decreased sexual performance - Sexual dysfunction may occur with chronic prostatitis.One of the characteristic symptoms is a normal erection, but a sharp decrease in the erection during sexual intercourse.In advanced stages, stable potency occurs.
- Infertility - Sperm motility decreases after scarring of the seminiferous ducts.Inflammation changes the structure and composition of ejaculate.In the later stages, the sperm thickens and appears lumpy.
- Pain during intercourse - discharge from urethra observed.Symptoms of discomfort and pain may be experienced during sexual relations, especially during ejaculation.Usually psychosomatic causes lead to persistent impotence in patients.
The main symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain, increased body temperature, difficulty urinating, and reproductive organ dysfunction.When making a diagnosis, the intensity and duration of time since the onset of clinical symptoms and associated symptoms are considered.
How to detect chronic inflammation of the prostate?
There are no symptoms of prostatitis that can accurately distinguish the disease.Some genitourinary diseases have similar symptoms.An accurate diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination of the patient, including laboratory tests and instrumental detection of the disease.
Upon suspicion of pelvic organ dysfunction, the urologist will order a mandatory rectal examination.If tissue changes are detected on palpation, several laboratory tests will be needed.
laboratory research methods
Clinical blood and urine tests can distinguish the presence of inflammatory processes and often explain the catalysts for the development of the disease.When making a diagnosis, additional information is needed from the results of the following laboratory tests:
- Cytological and bacteriological analysis of urine.The PSA level is determined.Protein levels increase dramatically with inflammation of glandular tissue.
- Remove the smear from the urethra.
- Microscopic examination of prostate secretions - based on the results, prostate dysfunction is determined.Distinguish between cancer and chronic tissue inflammation.In the acute phase of the disease, accompanied by high body temperature, worsening of hemorrhoids or anal fissures, it is forbidden to spread prostate secretions.
- STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Testing - One of the common catalysts of prostate inflammation is pathogenic microorganisms.Trichomonas, Staphylococcus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae can all cause the disease.Prostatitis occurs during an active phase of bacterial proliferation and after the infection has healed.
Laboratory tests are an essential component of the diagnosis of prostatitis and subsequent selection of treatment.
Instrumental testing for disease
There are three main methods for detecting prostatitis.Each instrumental diagnostic method provides information about structural changes in glandular tissue and has its own indications and contraindications:
- Tomography - MRI is often used to diagnose chronic prostatitis.This study allows you to obtain layer-by-layer images of the prostate.MRI signs accurately indicate chronic inflammation and also the onset of tissue degeneration toward malignant formation.Magnetic resonance technology is absolutely harmless, but it has contraindications because it cannot study patients with pacemakers, metal staples, and shunts (remaining during surgery).
- Transrectal TRUS is an information-rich method that reliably indicates the presence of inflammation.Depending on the type of chronic prostatitis, ultrasound signs of structural changes in the prostate include: volume and size, structural deviations from normal values, and the presence of pathological formations.Ultrasound technology is not suitable for acute inflammation of the rectum, anal fissures, or hemorrhoids.
- There are no contraindications to the ultrasound-transabdominal technique.This method provides less information than TRUS and MRI.Ultrasound signs make it difficult to determine the abdominal space.Diagnoses are often controversial and require clarification.The advantage of ultrasound is that it is easy and fast to study.
The accuracy of echograms depends largely on the experience of the physician performing the study.
Differentiated search for diseases
After receiving the results of clinical and biochemical studies, symptoms of chronic inflammation of the prostate are evaluated.Common diagnostic criteria have been developed that are valid worldwide.
To facilitate the task of the urologist, the NIH-CPSI Symptom Index was invented and is produced in the form of a questionnaire or questionnaire.The doctor fills out the fields in the document and then makes a diagnosis.
There are several computer programs based on the NIH-CPSI index.Doctors need to fill out a questionnaire, and the system will independently conduct a summary assessment of symptoms of chronic prostatitis.The effectiveness of this technology has been proven around the world.
After calculating the results of the questionnaire, additional evaluations of instrumental and clinical studies are taken into account when making the diagnosis: the presence of echogenic signs of chronic prostatitis, elevated PSA levels, identification of markers of infection by secretion microscopy.The more data a urologist has, the more accurate the results will be.
What are the dangers of chronic prostatitis - its consequences
The consequence of chronic prostatitis in men is genitourinary system dysfunction.These include:
- Impotence.
- Acute urinary retention.
- Infertility.
The fibrous changes that accompany advanced disease lead to the development of oncology.Normal tissue degenerates into malignant tissue.Therefore, preventing changes in prostate function to prevent the development of cancer is an extremely important task facing the urological surgeon.
When making the diagnosis, the presence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, a precursor to neoplastic and fibrous changes, is considered.Advanced disease often results in the need for surgery: prostatectomy.
The diagnosis of prostatitis and the differentiation of this disease from related diseases of the pelvic organs is an important task for doctors and patients.Detection of initial symptoms is entirely up to the person.If you experience any discomfort while urinating, have a reduced erection, or have a persistent low-grade fever, seek professional medical help immediately.Delays are dangerous!