Prostatitis is a specific disease, typical mainly of men of childbearing age.It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate, the second “heart” of men.
The signs of prostatitis in men are not always easy to recognize, especially if the pathology has a chronic course, without a prior 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 shows the first signs of prostatitis, he should immediately consult a doctor.Even minor discomfort, indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system, can lead to serious complications.
The ability to recognize the first symptoms of the inflammatory process allows you to timely diagnose the pathology and begin its treatment.Therefore, every man should familiarize himself with them in order to avoid serious problems caused by prostatitis.
The prostate and its role in a man's life
Even though 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 the complete seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate pathologies, such as prostatic hypertrophy or cancer, which often affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but its peak incidence is between 30 and 50 years old.
Types of prostatitis
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the time of their appearance and the duration of the disease, two variants 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 are generally not 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 illness may be serious and require immediate treatment, including hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis problems
The causes of prostatitis have been studied for a long time, but the understanding of the essence of the process has been significantly revised in recent years.Chronic prostatitis, sometimes called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a set of symptoms that can lead to a significant deterioration in men's quality of daily life.It is not always possible for a doctor to immediately identify chronic prostatitis, and further treatment is no less difficult, since it depends on various causative factors and the 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 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 often men may undergo long-term treatment for other pathologies until it finally turns out that the problem is inflammation of the prostate.
Signs of prostatitis in men
In the event of acute inflammation of the prostate, it is relatively simple to recognize;the demonstrations are quite lively and pronounced.The first signs of prostatitis in men include:
- severe pain that spreads around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- problems urinating, pain when the bladder fills, a need to urinate frequently (especially at night), intermittent urination, an 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 in men have been detected for at least three months:
- pain around the penis, in the testicles, anus, lower abdomen or lower back, of a pulling, pressing or aching nature.
- pain when urinating, a frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night, or intermittent urination.
- enlargement or tenderness of the prostate upon digital 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 disease can gradually worsen and symptoms of prostatitis appear more and more often.
How does the exam take place?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men, it is necessary to contact a urologist who will carry out a comprehensive diagnosis.The doctor will ask questions in detail about all the symptoms and events, health problems that preceded their appearance.A genital, abdominal and rectal examination will then be carried out.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?
Tactics for treating prostatitis will depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
In cases of acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, painkillers and a 2-4 week course of antibiotics are usually prescribed.In case of acute urinary retention, hospitalization and emergency measures are required - bladder catheterization with urine diversion as well as intensive treatment.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis, when symptoms appear and disappear over several months, generally aims to eliminate any discomfort.Your doctor may suggest the following procedures:
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatories that eliminate pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blocking drugs that eliminate urinary problems.They help relax the muscles of the prostate and the base of the bladder.
- Sometimes antibiotics may be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or if there are indications that there was previously an acute process that was not treated.
The goal of treatment for chronic prostatitis is to reduce symptoms until they do not interfere with daily activities.