Prostatitis is a frequently diagnosed disease.And if earlier it was detected mainly in men over 45-50 years of age, today it is often detected during standard examinations at the age of 35 and even earlier.What is this connected with?What causes inflammation of the prostate (prostate gland) in men, why can it also appear in young patients?Let's find out!We also consider issues related to the treatment and prevention of the disease.
Why does prostatitis occur?
To determine what causes prostatitis, you must first understand its forms.
Inflammation of the prostate gland can be non-bacterial and bacterial.Let's take a look at these shapes.
Bacterial prostatitis
This disease occurs when the body is exposed to pathogens that affect the male genitourinary tract.Typically, such organisms include Proteus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella.Prostatitis can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections.
Bacterial prostatitis can be:
- Spicy.In this case, the disease has a sudden onset with severe symptoms.Patients complain of severe pain and high body temperature.
- Chronic.This disease is characterized by periods of exacerbations and remissions.During flare-ups, the symptoms of prostatitis are pronounced.In the rest of the time, the patient can completely forget about the signs of the existing pathology.
Nonbacterial prostatitis
Today this pathology is considered one of the variants of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.There are several reasons for its development.
Among these:
- Incomplete relaxation of the urinary sphincter.In this case, the pressure in the bladder increases.Some of the urine ends up in the prostate, where it causes an inflammatory reaction.
- Stimulation of the pelvic nerves due to pathologies of the lumbosacral spine.In this case, prostatitis occurs without inflammation.
The risk of developing the disease increases under stressful conditions.
It is not surprising that prostatitis can be detected in any man, regardless of his age.
The following factors may also increase the chance of developing the disease:
- Presence of prostatitis in the anamnesis
- Urinary tract infections
- Weakened immunity (also due to HIV)
- Pelvic injuries
- Recent surgical procedures (including prostate biopsy)
- Operations performed on the urinary system (including installation of a urinary catheter)
How to recognize prostatitis?
The main signs of an acute disease include:
- Pain in the perineum, scrotum, anus and lower abdomen.Discomfort may increase during ejaculation.
- Frequent urge to urinate.As a rule, a man is forced to go to the toilet even at night.
- Painful urination, difficulty urinating.
- Restricted urine flow.In some cases, men feel the urge to urinate, but urination itself does not occur.
- Chills, fever and general malaise.Symptoms are generally comparable to those of the flu.
Clinical manifestations of prostatitis recorded during studies include the appearance of blood and mucus in the urine.
Chronic bacterial pathology is characterized by similar symptoms.In this case, the disease occurs in a milder form.Patients complain of symptoms for only a few weeks.
The main symptom of nonbacterial prostatitis is pelvic pain (including during ejaculation).In some cases, it is difficult for the patient to go to the toilet.In this case the pain is usually less intense than that of a bacterial disease, but still significantly compromises the quality of life.
Important!
It is almost impossible to independently determine the type of disease.That's why, if you experience any symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.He will determine what caused prostatitis in a man and how to treat it.The doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe all necessary procedures and medications.
Self-medication is not only undesirable, but dangerous.This is because prostatitis can cause a number of complications.
The main ones include:
- Prostate abscess
- Bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention
- Infertility
- Impotence
- Prostate adenoma
How is prostatitis treated?
Treatment tactics are determined based on the cause of the disease.Therefore, it is necessary to make a comprehensive diagnosis first.
As a rule, it includes:
- General blood and urine tests
- Culture of prostatic secretions or urine
- Blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antibodies)
Urologists also order tests for sexually transmitted infections.In some cases, additional diagnostics are required.It allows you to identify prostatitis, determine its form and distinguish the disease from pathological conditions with similar symptoms.
Such diagnostics may include:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs
- Computed tomography of the urinary tract
- Cystoscopy
For the treatment of bacterial prostatitis, mainly antibacterial drugs and drugs that improve urination are used.The duration of therapy is usually several weeks (up to a month).
Important!Prostate massage is currently considered ineffective.They do not have a physical evidence base and procedures.Therefore there is no point in making them.
If prostatitis is not caused by a bacterial infection, symptomatic therapy is usually performed.It allows you to eliminate the inflammatory process (if any), reduce discomfort and relieve the patient from pain.
Important!In each specific case, the treatment is selected exclusively by the doctor and is individual.When selecting, the specialist takes into account the characteristics of the patient, his age and concomitant diseases.
How to avoid developing prostatitis?
To prevent the development of the disease it is necessary:
- Have a regular sex life
- Use a condom during sex
- Avoid severe hypothermia
It is very important to timely protect yourself from factors that contribute to the appearance of prostatitis.Men also need to visit a urologist regularly.Even if the symptoms of the disease are absent or mild, it is recommended to undergo an annual examination and consult a doctor.Experienced specialists will tell you why prostatitis appears and at what age, why it can threaten you.
What is the result?
Prostatitis is a common disease.No man can be immune to it.Prostatitis can cause not only severe discomfort, but also a decrease in performance and overall quality of life.
It is advisable to consult a doctor both for pain in the pelvic and genital area and for any discomfort during urination and/or ejaculation.
Prostatitis must be distinguished from diseases with similar symptoms.This is because they may require completely different treatment (including surgery).
Antibiotics are only recommended for bacterial prostatitis.In other forms of the disease, they can be ineffective and even dangerous for the body.
Treatment of prostatitis is usually long-term, but has a positive prognosis, so once diagnosed, a man should not despair and worry about infertility, impotence and other complications.
So, we hope you have understood what causes prostatitis in men.
If you have any questions, please consult a specialist.
Doctors of a modern clinic are ready not only to diagnose the disease, but also to treat it effectively and safely.In the clinic you can undergo the necessary tests in the shortest possible time.Your doctor will tell you what causes prostatitis and how to prevent or treat it.
All procedures and consultations are carried out without queues, in a comfortable environment and in one place.