Prostatitis is a specific disease, especially typical of men of reproductive age.It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, the second "heart" of man.
The signs of prostatitis in men are not always easy to recognize, especially if the pathology has a chronic course, without a previous acute phase.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, he should immediately consult a doctor.Even mild discomfort, indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system, can have serious complications.
The ability to recognize the first symptoms of the inflammatory process allows you to promptly diagnose the pathology and start treatment.Therefore, every man should familiarize himself with them to avoid the serious problems that prostatitis leads to.
The prostate and its role in a man's life
Even if the prostate is small, if its function is impaired, a man can have many problems.The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ located between the penis and the bladder.The prostate produces a secretion that mixes with sperm to form complete seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate diseases, such as prostatic hypertrophy or cancer, which often affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but the peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 50.
Types of prostatitis
Based on the severity of the symptoms, the time of their onset and the duration of the disease, two variants of the pathology are distinguished:
- Chronic prostatitis.Symptoms can be subtle and come and go over the course of several months.This is the most common type of prostatitis;the causes of inflammation in it are usually not infectious.
- Acute prostatitis.With this form, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and develop suddenly.This variant of the disease is often caused by a microbial infection;the condition can be serious and requires immediate treatment, including hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis problems
The causes of prostatitis have been studied for a long time, but understanding the essence of the process has been significantly revised in recent years.Chronic prostatitis, sometimes referred to by its alternative name, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a group of symptoms that can cause a significant deterioration in the quality of daily life in men.It is not always possible for a doctor to immediately identify chronic prostatitis, and subsequent treatment is no less difficult, since it depends on various causative factors and existing symptoms of prostatitis in men.
Unlike approaches used in the past, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are based on the separation of chronic bacterial prostatitis from other forms of the disease, considered as a multifactorial disease.According to data published in Research and Reports in Urology in 2019, autoimmunity and systemic inflammation, nervous system dysfunction, and psychological causes play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by various symptoms associated with the urinary organs, genitals, rectum, and perineum, and men may often undergo long-term treatments for other conditions until the problem is eventually discovered to be inflammation of the prostate.
Signs of prostatitis in men
If acute inflammation of the prostate occurs, it is relatively simple to recognize it;the manifestations are quite bright and pronounced.Early signs of prostatitis in men include:
- severe pain that spreads around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.Emptying your bladder can be painful;
- problems with urination, pain when the bladder fills, need to urinate frequently (especially at night), intermittent urination, urgent need to urinate, and sometimes blood in the urine;
- against the background of severe swelling of the prostate and severe pain, acute urinary retention is possible;
- malaise, fever, nausea;
- light, thick, odorless discharge from the urethra.
If these or other signs of prostatitis in men are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor or urologist.
Chronic inflammation: symptoms of prostatitis in men
We can talk about a chronic process if the following symptoms of prostatitis have been detected in men at least in the last three months:
- pain around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back of a pulling, pressing, or aching nature.
- pain when urinating, frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night, or intermittent urination.
- an enlarged or painful prostate on rectal examination, although in some cases it 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 prostatitis symptoms appear more and more often.
How is the exam conducted?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men it is necessary to contact a urologist who will carry out a complete diagnosis.The doctor will ask in detail about all the symptoms, events and health problems that preceded their appearance.A genital, abdominal, and rectal exam will then be performed.The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to palpate the prostate.Discomfort is possible during the examination if the prostate gland 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 will depend on the form of the disease: acute or chronic prostatitis.
For acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, painkillers and a course of antibiotics for 2-4 weeks are usually prescribed.If acute urinary retention occurs, hospitalization and emergency measures are required: bladder catheterization with urine diversion along with intensive treatment.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis, when symptoms appear and disappear over several months, is usually aimed at eliminating any discomfort.Your doctor may suggest the following procedures:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blocking drugs that eliminate urinary problems.They help relax the muscles of the prostate gland and the base of the bladder.
- Antibiotics may sometimes be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or if there are indications that an acute process previously occurred and was not treated.
The goal of treatment for chronic prostatitis is to reduce symptoms to the point where they do not interfere with daily activities.