Chronic prostatitis: symptoms and causes

Chronic prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, leading to disruption of its function.

Description of chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, leading to disruption of its function.The disease is difficult to treat and relapses often occur.There are two types of chronic prostatitis:

1. Infectious, caused by bacteria, infection, or fungal damage.
2. Stagnation, which develops with stagnation of prostatic secretions and venous blood.The causes of congestive prostatitis are irregular sexual life, sedentary work, and tight underwear.

Chronic prostatitis is the most common urinary system disease in men of childbearing age.

Factors that influence the occurrence of prostatitis include the following:

• Decreased immunity associated with constant stress, neurological overload, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, frequent lack of sleep;
• hormonal imbalance;
• Previous STD;
• untreated urinary tract infection;
• Sedentary lifestyles and sedentary jobs (especially drivers);
• Work associated with prolonged exposure to vibration, such as working with a jackhammer or lathe.

The disease severely impairs quality of life and causes social and psychological problems.Potency may also be reduced and reproductive function may be impaired.

Without proper treatment, chronic prostatitis can lead to many serious complications:

• Pyelonephritis and cystitis - due to urinary tract infection;
• Seminal vesiculitis - inflammation of the testicles and appendages;
• adenomas and prostate cancer;
• An inflammatory process occurs in the nerves responsible for erectile function, leading to infertility.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The disease develops mainly asymptomatically.Therefore, testing for prostatitis is often associated with a diagnosis of suspected prostate cancer.

Some symptoms include:

• Mild pain and discomfort in the perineum, projecting to the rectum and sacrum, lasting for more than three months;
• pain and premature ejaculation;
• Burning sensation in perineum and urethra;
• Discomfort during defecation;
• discharge from urethra;
• Difficulty urinating and pain from urinary retention sometimes occur;
• Decreased sexual performance, erection problems, and lack of orgasm;
• depressive state;
• High levels of generalized fatigue.

Not all signs appear immediately.Generally speaking, chronic prostatitis is characterized by a wave-like course, with symptoms either intensifying, weakening, or disappearing completely.This makes diagnosis and subsequent treatment more difficult.

Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis

Diagnosis of suspected chronic prostatitis includes:

• patient surveys;
• General urine and blood tests;
• three-cup urine test;
• Testing for sexually transmitted infections;
• Prostatic secretions are cultured to determine the susceptibility of its microbiota to various antimicrobial agents;
• digital rectal examination of the prostate;
• Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and prostate.

In addition, the following may be specified:

• Uroflowmetry (measurement of parameters of urine output);
• Prostate tissue biopsy;
• Urethral smears are analyzed by PCR (polymer chain reaction) for the presence of chlamydia and mycoplasma.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment depends on a variety of factors, with the main goal being to eliminate the factors that lead to the development of chronic prostatitis:

• patient’s age;
• disease stage;
• Types of chronic prostatitis.

The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on diagnosis at the initial stage of the disease, compliance with diet and the increase and regularity of physical activity.

The main treatment method for chronic prostatitis is comprehensive drug therapy based on the results of prostate secretions and urine bacterial culture.The duration of the course of treatment should be at least 4 weeks, and if positive developments occur, treatment should be continued until the infection is completely eliminated.

Medications used to treat chronic prostatitis are divided into the following groups:

• antibiotics and antibacterial drugs;
• Alpha-blockers (drugs that cause blood vessels and channels to dilate and regulate prostate metabolism);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
• immune boosters;
• antidepressants;
• vitamin complex;
• plant extracts;
• analgesics;
• Medications that improve microcirculation and reduce blood clotting.

Prostate massage plays an important role in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. It can improve blood and lymph circulation, eliminate congestion, and increase the smoothness of prostate ducts.

In recent years, the range of therapeutic measures has expanded to include various physical therapy methods:

1. Ultra high frequency therapy.
2. Laser therapy (to improve microcirculation and decongest the prostate).
3. Rectal electrophoresis.
4. Microwave heat therapy.

Spa treatments are also available, especially mud treatments and thermal baths.

Surgical treatment methods are used only in the final stage of the disease - sclerosis of the prostate.In this case, transurethral resection of the bladder neck, prostate, and seminal tubercle is required.

Since there is a lack of universal treatment for chronic prostatitis, the main goals of treatment are to eliminate the source of infection, restore a normal immune background, and restore normal prostate function.

The prevention of chronic prostatitis focuses on eliminating the factors that cause the disease.

The risk of chronic prostatitis is reduced if:

• engage in regular physical activity;
• healthy sleep patterns;
• good nutrition;
• Sex life rules.