Prostatitis is a special disease that mainly affects men of reproductive age.It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate, a man's second "heart".
In men, the signs of prostatitis are not always easy to recognize, especially if the pathology has a chronic course without a previous acute stage.If the process is acute, in this case the symptoms of prostatitis in men will be quite typical and pronounced.
If a man has the first signs of prostatitis, consult a doctor immediately.Even minor discomforts that indicate the development of a disease of the urogenital system can cause serious complications.
Recognizing the first symptoms of the inflammatory process allows timely diagnosis of the pathology and initiation of treatment.Therefore, every man should familiarize himself with them to avoid serious problems caused by prostatitis.
The prostate and its role in a man's life
Although the prostate is small, if its function is impaired, a man can experience many problems.The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located between the penis and the bladder.The prostate produces a secretion that mixes with sperm to form seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate pathologies, such as prostatic hypertrophy or cancer, which often affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but the peak incidence occurs between 30 and 50 years of age.
Types of prostatitis
Based on the severity of the symptoms, the time of onset and the duration of the disease, two versions of the pathology are distinguished:
- Chronic prostatitis.Symptoms can be subtle and come and go over several months.This is the most common type of prostatitis;the causes of inflammation in it are usually non-infectious.
- Acute prostatitis.With this form, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and develop suddenly.This variant of the disease is most often caused by a microbial infection;the condition can be serious and requires immediate treatment, including hospitalization.
Problems of chronic prostatitis
The causes of prostatitis have long been studied, but the understanding of the essence of the process has been significantly revised in recent years.Chronic prostatitis, sometimes referred to by another name, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a group of symptoms that can cause a significant deterioration in men's daily quality of life.The doctor is not always able to immediately identify chronic prostatitis, and the subsequent treatment is no less difficult, as it depends on various triggering factors and the existing symptoms of prostatitis in men.
In contrast to the approaches used in the past, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are based on the separation of chronic bacterial prostatitis from other forms of the disease, which are considered a multifactorial disease.According to data published in Research and Reports in Urology 2019, autoimmunity and systemic inflammation, nervous system dysfunctions and psychological causes play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by a variety of symptoms related to the urinary organs, genitals, rectum, and perineum, and often men may undergo long-term treatment for other pathologies, until finally the problem is revealed to be inflammation of the prostate.
Signs of prostatitis in men
When acute prostatitis occurs, it is relatively easy to recognize;the manifestations are quite clear and emphatic.The first signs of prostatitis in men are:
- severe pain that spreads to the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- problems urinating, pain when filling the bladder, frequent need to urinate (especially at night), frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, and sometimes blood in the urine;
- acute urinary retention is possible against the background of severe swelling and severe pain of the prostate;
- malaise, fever, nausea;
- light, thick, odorless discharge from the urethra.
If men notice any of these signs of prostatitis, consult a doctor or urologist immediately.
Chronic inflammation: symptoms of prostatitis in men
We can speak of a chronic process if the following symptoms of prostatitis have been observed in men for at least the last three months:
- pain around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back that is pulling, pressing, or aching.
- pain when urinating, frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night, or frequent urination.
- an enlarged or tender prostate on rectal examination, although in some cases this may be normal.
- intimate problems such as erectile dysfunction, pain during ejaculation or pelvic pain after intercourse.
These symptoms can have a significant impact on a man's quality of life.Without treatment, the condition can gradually worsen, and the symptoms of prostatitis appear more and more often.
How is the examination carried out?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men, a urologist should be contacted, who will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis.The doctor will ask in detail about all the symptoms and events, health problems that preceded their appearance.Then a genital, abdominal and rectal examination is performed.The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate.During the examination, discomfort is possible if the prostate is enlarged or inflamed.Blood and urine tests are also ordered to look for signs of infection.
How is prostatitis treated?
Treatment tactics for prostatitis depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
In case of acute inflammation, when the symptoms are sudden and severe, painkillers and a 2-4 week course of antibiotics are usually prescribed.If acute urinary retention occurs, hospitalization and emergency measures are required - catheterization of the bladder with urinary drainage with intensive treatment.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis, when symptoms appear and disappear over several months, is usually aimed at eliminating all discomfort.Your doctor may recommend the following procedures:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blockers, which eliminate urinary tract problems.They help relax the muscles of the prostate gland and the base of the bladder.
- Sometimes antibiotics may be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or there are indications that an acute process has not been previously treated.
The goal of chronic prostatitis treatment is to reduce the symptoms so that they no longer interfere with daily activities.