Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Currently, urologists tend to believe that prostatitis is not a single disease, but combines several diseases in the male genital area. 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 immediate causes of prostatitis are two factors of equal importance. The first is the occurrence of congestion in the small 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 agents in prostate tissue, perhaps in such cases, autoimmune processes become the cause of prostatitis, which means that the prostate gland is attacked by its own immune cells. system, as a result of damage in it.

Predisposing factors for the onset of inflammation of the prostate gland are: weakness of the immune system due to infection, hypothermia, stress; hormonal disorders, incomplete ejaculation, physical inactivity, food preferences (addiction to fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods), 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 covers 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 no infection is detected that lasts more than 3 months;
    • Subcategory III A. Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (leukocytes are determined in the secretory of the prostate);
    • Subcategory III B. Chronic non -inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (no leukocytes in prostate secretion);
    • Category IV. Chronic prostatitis without symptoms (leukocytes are present in the secretions of the prostate, the patient does not complain, the disease is detected by chance).

    Symptoms of prostatitis

    healthy and inflamed prostate with prostatitis

    There are what is called "triad prostatitis", the three most common symptoms of prostatitis. This includes:

    1. pain in the pelvic and genital areas;
    2. urinary disorders, which include sluggish flow, intermittent flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, frequent urination, etc. ;
    3. disorders in the genital area.

    It should be noted that not all three symptoms of prostatitis are mandatory, in addition, acute and chronic prostatitis proceed in different ways.

    Symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe and sharp pain in the area of the prostate gland, which is given to the rectum, perineum, testicles, lower back; deterioration of general condition, fever, headache and muscle aches, general weakness; urinary incontinence up to acute urinary retention due to prostate edema and urethral compression.

    Symptoms of chronic prostatitis: pain in the prostate gland area, but less intense than acute prostatitis; urinary disorders, sexual disorders: incomplete erections, short -term erections, accelerated ejaculation, etc. Chronic prostatitis can have an undulating course, when periods of exacerbation are replaced by periods of subsidence, or it can have persistent mild symptoms.

    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 were performed:

    • analysis of prostate gland secretions;
    • digital rectal examination;
    • transrectal ultrasound of the prostate;
    • Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
    • blood tests for PSA (prostate antigen);
    • general blood analysis;
    • general urine analysis;
    • urine analysis for urogenital infections before and after prostate massage;
    • uroflowmetry (urine test).

    The main thing in the diagnosis is to identify the cause of prostatitis, because therapeutic measures depend on this. Another diagnostic challenge is to exclude prostate cancer.

    Treatment of prostatitis

    Acute and chronic prostatitis of bacterial origin are treated with antibacterial drugs. Strong doses of antibiotics are prescribed, for acute prostatitis, even before the results of bacterial cultures are obtained, because the acute process requires immediate action. In the complex, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, which also have analgesic effects.

    Chronic prostatitis is treated depending on the underlying cause. For non -bacterial prostatitis, general strengthening, immunomodulatory drugs are taken. Treatment of prostatitis is carried out with the mandatory participation of physiotherapeutic procedures: laser therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of medical materials, ultrasound, etc.

    Urologists say that treatment of prostatitis by medical means alone will only lead to temporary relief, because without changing the usual way of life, the treatment of prostatitis is ineffective. It is necessary to abandon bad habits, lead an active lifestyle, eliminate hypodynamia, avoid stagnation in the small pelvis with the help of special gymnastics, try to spend less time in the car, walk more, and even have enough rest.

    It’s also important to improve your sex life, keep it organized, and eat well. Chronic prostatitis is prone to relapse, so changes in lifestyle should remain, only in this case, treatment of prostatitis will lead to complete healing.

    Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies

    For the treatment of prostatitis, folk methods are widely used and successfully, especially for the treatment of chronic prostatitis. They act more gently than drugs, but they are still quite effective and give fewer side effects, so that the treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies can be carried out for a long time, until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated.

    From folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis, teas made from medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are widely used: teas made 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 strengthening agents. Bee wax is suitable for bandages in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, replacing paraffin wax. Echinacea tincture is used as a mild immunostimulatory agent; for the same purpose, several types of honey have been successfully used.