Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that affects men aged 20 and over.
According to statistics, 1 in 4 men have suffered from this disease in one form or another. In recent years, there has been a persistent tendency to "rejuvenate" the process. This is due to sexual release, an increase in sexually transmitted infections, tendencies to self-diagnosis and treatment on the Internet, and resistance of infectious agents to the action of antibiotic therapy.
This is all the more true since the first signs of prostatitis in men are usually expressed erased, which does not allow to consult a doctor in time and in some cases leads to the development of advanced prostatitis.
Signs of prostatitis in men
The characteristics of the structure, blood supply and location of the prostate gland affect the nature of the symptoms that will lead to its inflammation. These include:
- Pain symptom.
- Symptom of urination disorder (dysuria).
- Symptom of erectile dysfunction.
Pain symptom
Pain sensations, of varying intensity, disturb the man in the lower abdomen, in the perineum, the genitals, the lumbosacral spine. This localization of pain is due to the presence of nerve connections and the involvement of seminal vesicles (vesicles) in the inflammation process.
The pain can vary in intensity, from an inexplicable feeling of discomfort to severe pain that affects a man's mental state and causes insomnia. Painful sensations depend on sexual behavior and arise from the lack of regular ejaculation or, conversely, ejaculation, which is associated with the spread of the inflammatory process to the rear urethra.
Note that pain in the lumbosacral region may not be associated with the prostate in any way, but may be the result, for example, of osteochondrosis of the spine. The result of a conversation with the patient and the data of the urological examination help to establish the cause of such pain.
The very first sign of prostatitis in men is a sensation of pain in the testes (in the scrotum area) with spreading along the epididymis (right and left groin areas). Pain radiating from an inflamed prostate may appear on the inside of the thighs, on the back, which imposes the need to consult a neurologist to exclude neurological pathology, since it is precisely for prostate pain that such a spread does not occur. is not typical.
In some cases, the irradiation of painful sensations is asymmetric, which makes it possible to suspect an inflammatory process in the prostate, localized in one of its lobes. Instead of manifestation, the pain syndrome is divided into genital (in the genital area, characteristic of chronic congestive prostatitis), extragenital (above the genitals), characteristic of advanced advanced prostatitis) and mixed (chronic prostatitis).
Symptoms of dysuria or urination disorder with prostatitis
Urination disorders result in false desires, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder with frequent urination, associated with inflammation of the bladder neck and urethra. Long-standing signs of dysuria in prostatitis indicate the chronicity of the process.
Erectile dysfunction with prostatitis
Erectile dysfunction in prostatitis is represented by premature ejaculation, fuzzy sensations during orgasm, decreased libido, weakened erection. Sometimes a man's prostatitis can be suspected by the absence of morning erections.
A decrease in potency, as the first sign of prostatitis in men, is caused by a decrease in the synthesis of testosterone (male sex hormone).
Manifestations of prostate inflammation are not limited to the above three symptoms. Often the first sign of prostatitis in a man is the discharge of prostatic secretion from the urethra during the act of defecation (prostatorrhea), which indicates a decrease in the tone of the muscles of the ejaculatory ducts.
In addition, one can only focus on the psychological signs of prostatitis in men: asthenoneurotic syndrome develops from the nervous system (depression, fatigue, lack of desire to do anything, weaknessphysical).
The first signs of acute prostatitis
All of the above symptoms are typical of chronic inflammation of the prostate, with acute prostatitis in a man the picture is somewhat different.
The disease begins with severe acute pain in the perineum, the symptoms of urinary disorders are more clearly traced. There is an increase in temperature up to 38-39 C, chills, weakness, sweating, muscle and bone pain. When defecating, pain in the anus worries. There is no sex life.
If you do not pass the examination in time and start treatment, the acute process will be complicated by purulent prostatitis, which can lead to an abscess, which will lead to emergency surgery.
If there are no other reasons (immunodeficiency states, severe concomitant pathology, etc. ) - purulent prostatitis in humans - advanced inflammatory process due to untimely access to a doctor!
Causes of signs of inflammation of the prostate
Factors that affect inflammation of the prostate have been conventionally divided into 3 groups.
Factors that do not respond include:
- Type of body.
- Sexual constitution.
- Age factor.
- The presence of diseases.
- Environment (climatic factor).
Partially controllable factors:
- Sexual habits.
- Profession.
- Basic diseases of the male genital area.
- Attitude towards disease.
And finally, controllable factors:
- Promiscuous sex life.
- Alcoholism.
- Non-compliance with treatment recommendations.
- Errors in power mode.
Who is at risk
Prostatitis threatens men who:
- Adhere to a sedentary lifestyle.
- Suffer from chronic constipation.
- Have a history of venereal infections.
- Having more than one sexual partner.
- Suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction.
- They work in cold conditions.
If there are signs of prostatitis, what to do
Laboratory diagnosis for prostatitis
- In ALK, an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation, a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left. In OAM - leukocyturia, proteinuria, bacteriuria.
- Blood for HIV infection.
- A smear from the urethra on the flora As a rule, in the smear leukocytes are completely. If a venereal pathogen (Neisser's gonococcus, Trichomonas) is not identified, it is imperative to perform a PCR diagnosis.
- Secretion of the prostate Sowing of the secretion of the prostate on the pathogen and determination of the sensitivity to the antibiotic.
- PCR - diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. The most reliable and fastest way to verify the pathogen.
- Blood for PSA Blood for PSA (prostate specific antigen) should not be taken during an acute inflammatory process in the prostate, the result will not be reliable. It is best to do this analysis 1 month after the end of treatment. Young people under the age of 30 do not need to examine the level of PSA in the blood. This test is important for a man over 40, because acute prostatitis, in some cases, can be secondary, and a malignant prostate tumor is masked behind its clinical manifestations.
Instrumental diagnostic methods
Usually, ultrasound examination of the prostate transrectally (through the rectum) or transabdominally (through the abdomen) is sufficient.
Signs of prostatitis on ultrasound
An increase in the volume of the gland, a change in texture, edema; with purulent prostatitis - areas of necrosis, deformation of the contours, increase in regional lymph nodes.
What you should pay attention to
First of all, to get rid of the symptoms of prostatitis forever, you need to follow a certain diet.
The exacerbation of prostatitis in a man depends on irritants ingested with food: hot spices, vinegar, pickles, alcohol.
Special mention should be made of alcohol, even its minimal use can negate the effects of long-term complex therapy.
Some patients feel that they should drink less often or switch to lighter alcoholic beverages. This is their main mistake.
Diluted vinegar, kvass, citrus fruits, sauerkraut, tomatoes and cucumbers have no harmful effect on prostatitis.
Eating foods rich in fiber will relieve a man from constipation - one of the main reasons for the development of congestion in the small pelvis.
Herbal medicine helps prevention. Taking herbal diuretics: lingonberry leaf, dill seed, urological swab helps improve urination during inflammation.
Sports, especially exercise to improve blood flow to the pelvic organs, help keep the prostate in good shape.
The development of inflammation of the prostate causes hypothermia. In winter it is worth dressing warmer, and in summer after swimming you should not stay in a wet bathing suit for a long time.
Using condoms during sexual contact with an unknown partner will protect you against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.
Prolonged fatigue has a negative effect on the human immune system, as well as stressful situations, which can intensify a dormant prostate infection. Regular preventive examination by a urologist will help maintain men's health.