Prostatitis is a frequently diagnosed disease.And if previously it was detected mainly in men over the age of 45–50 years, 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!Let's 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 look at these forms.
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 exacerbations, the symptoms of prostatitis are pronounced.The rest of the time, the patient may completely forget about the signs of the existing pathology.
Abacterial prostatitis
Today this pathology is considered as one of the variants of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.There are several reasons for its development.
Among them:
- 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 provokes 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 stress.
It is not surprising that prostatitis can be detected in any man, regardless of his age.
The following factors may also increase the likelihood of developing the disease:
- Presence of prostatitis in the anamnesis
- Urinary tract infections
- Weakened immunity (including due to HIV)
- Pelvic injuries
- Recent surgical procedures (including prostate biopsy)
- Interventions performed on the urinary system (including installation of a urinary catheter)
How to recognize prostatitis?
The main signs of an acute illness 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 visit the toilet even at night.
- Painful urination, difficulty urinating.
- Restricted urine flow.In some cases, men experience the urge to urinate, but urination itself does not occur.
- Chills, fever and general unwellness.Symptoms are usually 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 just a few weeks.
The main symptom of non-bacterial 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 severe than with a bacterial disease, but nevertheless significantly impairs the quality of life.
Important!
It is almost impossible to independently determine the type of disease.That is why, if you have any symptoms, you should consult 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 the necessary procedures and medications.
Self-medication is not only undesirable, but dangerous.This is due to the fact that 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 depending on the cause of the disease.Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis must be carried out first.
As a rule, it includes:
- General blood and urine tests
- Culture of prostate secretions or urine
- Blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antibodies)
Urologists also prescribe 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
To treat bacterial prostatitis, antibacterial drugs and drugs that improve urination are mainly used.The duration of therapy is usually several weeks (up to a month).
Important!Prostate massage is currently considered ineffective.They do not have an evidence base and physical procedures.Therefore, it makes no sense to carry them out.
If prostatitis is not caused by a bacterial infection, symptomatic therapy is usually carried out.It allows you to eliminate the inflammatory process (if any), reduce discomfort and relieve the patient from pain.
Important!In each specific case, 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 regular sex life
- Use condoms during sex
- Avoid severe hypothermia
It is very important to protect yourself in a timely manner from factors that contribute to the occurrence of prostatitis.Men also need to visit a urologist regularly.Even if symptoms of the disease are absent or mild, it is recommended to be examined annually and consult with a doctor.Experienced specialists will tell you why prostatitis appears and at what age, why it can threaten you.
What's the result?
Prostatitis is a common disease.No man can be immune from it.Prostatitis can cause not only severe discomfort, but also a decrease in performance and overall quality of life.
You should consult a doctor both for pain in the pelvic and genital areas, and for any discomfort during urination and/or ejaculation.
Prostatitis must be distinguished from pathologies with similar symptoms.This is due to the fact that they may require completely different treatment (including surgery).
Antibiotics are recommended exclusively for bacterial prostatitis.In other forms of the disease, they may be ineffective and even dangerous to 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 figured out what causes prostatitis in men.
If you have any questions, please contact a specialist.
Doctors at a modern clinic are ready not only to diagnose the disease, but also to treat it effectively and safely.In the clinic you will be able to undergo the necessary examination in the shortest possible time.The 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.