Frequent, painful urination, discomfort in the perineum, hyperthermia, decreased potency and libido are problems faced by 80% of 45-50-year-old men, but most of them postpone consulting a doctor until the pain becomes unbearable.Unpleasant symptoms indicate inflammation of the prostate that requires immediate treatment: prostatitis in men quickly becomes chronic and can lead to infertility, sexual dysfunction and oncology.
What is prostatitis?
The prostate gland is an organ similar in size and shape to a chestnut and located below the bladder.Its lower part borders the perineum.In men, the prostate performs the following functions: secretion - the production of sex hormones and secretions that determine the quality of sperm, and obstruction - the separation of ejaculation and urinary excretion processes.
The second name of the gland is popularly used to refer to a common disease that affects about half of the male population: the older a man is, the higher the risk of getting sick - prostatitis is rarely diagnosed in children aged 20-25 years.The disease is dangerous with severe complications, so it is important to recognize it at an early stage.
The therapeutic course lasts up to 14 days, and the patient is required to strictly adhere to preventive measures for a few more months.If the disease becomes chronic, the risk of relapse is 50%.
Classification
Treatment of prostate gland in men sometimes lasts for years.The disease temporarily takes an asymptomatic course, only after a few months it reminds itself with a sharp decrease in immunity, disruption of the intestinal microflora and other stressful situations for the body.Male prostate disease has several forms:
- spicy.It is characterized by bacterial infection of prostate tissue.Typical symptoms are severe pain and a critical rise in temperature.The disease must be treated in a hospital setting;
- Chronic bacterial.The periodic weakening of symptoms is often taken as a signal of recovery, but this is an illusion - each subsequent exacerbation due to the development of purulent foci and the appearance of neoplasms is more severe than the previous ones;
- Asymptomatic.Absence of symptoms with active development of the disease.In men, such a prostate is often discovered accidentally based on the results of a urine test;
- Granulomatosis.Stopping the activity of the gland due to overgrowth with connective tissue;
- Pelvic pain syndrome.A difficult form to diagnose, accompanied by constant painful sensations in the pelvis, neurological and psycho-emotional disorders.
What does prostate mean in men?First of all, the diagnosis means the need to reconsider your lifestyle, be patient and follow the doctor's recommendations - you may have to be treated for a long time.
What causes prostate cancer in men?
Reasons
The exact algorithm for the occurrence of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland has not been established, but a pattern has been established: with a decrease in general immunity, the probability of getting sick increases.Why does this happen?Infectious pathogens that enter the mucous membrane of a healthy person are in a "dormant" state and do not spread until the body's protective functions are weakened.This is how the male prostate begins to develop.
Factors that increase the risk:
- hypothermia;
- Injuries and bruises of the perineum;
- STDs;
- Inactive lifestyle, sedentary work;
- Low sex life;
- contraception using the abstinence method (incomplete ejaculation occurs);
- Stress, neuroses, depression;
- Bad habits - smoking, alcoholism;
- Drug intoxication.
Doctors also note the connection between the fashion of tight pants that squeeze the genitals and the increase in the incidence of diseases.Men who prefer tight jeans have more prostate symptoms than those who prefer loose jeans.
Etiology of the chronic form
In men, persistent prostatitis is the result of improper treatment (or complete absence) of acute inflammation of the prostate.Causes of exacerbation: sexually transmitted diseases, stressful situations at work and in the family, forced restriction of emptying of the rectum or bladder, wearing tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
An additional factor is pelvic congestion caused by low mobility.A patient who has experienced prostate cancer in men in an acute form should take all measures to prevent recurrence: first of all, it is necessary to walk more to activate blood circulation.
Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland in men
Acute prostatitis
There are three types of this form of the disease: catarrhal, follicular, parenchymal (the most dangerous).In the first case, the malfunction begins with a nagging pain in the pubic region and a slight increase in temperature.Soon, the man feels discomfort during urination or sexual intercourse and a constant feeling of fatigue.
Follicular type is characterized by severe pain in the penis and lower back: it does not allow complete emptying of the bowels and bladder.If left untreated, a third type of disease develops.
What is parenchymal prostate in men?Difficulty in urinating turns into complete retention of urine, body temperature reaches 39-40 degrees, mucous discharge appears from the rectum.The condition is serious and requires immediate hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis
The symptoms of this form are often vague and unexpressed, which makes diagnosis difficult.The pain syndrome is permanent, localized under the abdomen and quite easily tolerated.Anxiety increases after intimacy.
Urination becomes somewhat difficult - the flow of urine is intermittent.Enthusiasm is more frequent.Atypical discharge appears at the head of the genital organ after physical exertion.Erectile dysfunction is possible.The temperature remains between 37 - 37.3 C.
If symptoms of chronic prostatitis are observed in men, treatment should not be delayed: low-grade inflammation can cause infertility.
Diagnostics
If you suspect inflammation of the prostate gland, a timely visit to a urologist is the best solution.During the appointment, the doctor will ask several questions about your health and review the patient's medical records to take a medical history.Then external examination and palpation of the organ is performed through the rectum.
A number of studies are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis:
- Secret analysis;
- ultrasound of the prostate gland;
- Collection of materials for PCR;
- MRI of the pelvic organs.
If necessary, the speed of urine flow during urination is measured with a special device, a uroflowmeter.Measurements are taken in the clinic: the patient empties the bladder into a special container with a sensor, at the end of the process a graphic image is created.
Treatment of prostate gland in men
Before determining the course of treatment, it is important to determine all the factors that provoke the inflammatory process.When the exact cause of prostatitis in men is determined, the treatment becomes more effective.The urologist develops an individual complex program that includes the following elements:
- Drug therapy.Antiviral drugs are prescribed for viral etiology, and antibacterial drugs are prescribed for infectious lesions.In parallel, anti-inflammatory suppositories and creams, immunostimulating substances and, if necessary, analgesics are used;
- Physiotherapy.The method is determined based on the form of the disease.It can be electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser sessions, UHF;
- Massage.The procedure is performed by a doctor or (after training) the patient's spouse - emotional comfort and family support are of great importance to the sick person.Massage improves the discharge of purulent-inflammatory secretions from the prostate ducts.
The effectiveness of the prescribed therapy is evaluated after 10-14 days: if positive dynamics are observed, the course is continued after a short break.When there is no improvement, a decision is made to stop certain drugs and procedures and replace them with others.
Prevention
Prostate gland in men, its symptoms and treatment is a topic that every representative of the stronger sex who has reached reproductive age should study in detail.Awareness of preventive measures will help prevent inflammation.
How to protect yourself from prostatitis?Avoiding hypothermia and unprotected sex, and regularly getting tested for STDs are recommended.You should empty your bladder in time and choose loose pants.