Diseases of the genitourinary system in men are difficult to treat and recur by nature. Prostate pathologies affect hormone levels, emotional state, erectile and genitourinary function.
The treatment of prostatitis in men is complicated by the fact that in the early stages of development, disorders practically do not manifest themselves symptomatically. The first signs appear when the disease is advanced. Early diagnosis and an adequately prescribed course of therapy are the key to a favorable prognosis in the fight against pathology.
What is prostatitis
With few exceptions, the term "prostatitis" refers to chronic or acute inflammation of the prostate. The manifestations of prostatitis in men are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the genitourinary system. The process leads to obstruction of the glandular tissue and the appearance of the following disorders:
- Dysuric disorders.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Pain syndrome.
The disease causes the formation of adhesions and scars. Metabolism and blood circulation in the tissues gradually deteriorate. Irreversible changes occur that can only be corrected by surgery. There are several types of disorders depending on etiology and stage of development.
Categories of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate matures against the background of congestion in the pelvic area. The process quickly becomes chronic. A favorable time for treatment is the initial stage of the disease.
Medical manuals describe 4 types of diseases, with characteristic symptoms and manifestations:
- category I—
Acute prostatitis. The catalyst is infection that entered the tissue, injury and hypothermia of the gland. Inflammation occurs suddenly and lasts 3-4 days. Without the necessary therapy, it becomes chronic. Manifestations:- heat,
- fever,
- pain in the pelvis and lumbar region,
- body intoxication.
- Category II—
Chronic bacterial prostatitis. It starts with deterioration. Cause of appearance: interrupted course of antibiotics, self-medication. The inflammation occurs in a latent form, without visible manifestations, until the immune system weakens so much that the infection causes the disease to worsen. Treatment begins with antibiotics and NSAIDs. - Category III—
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The disease resulted from acute inflammation of the prostate. Disorders develop slowly, irreversible changes occur that lead to tissue obstruction. Congestive inflammation, on the other hand, is divided into two subgroups:Category IIIa – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation. It is characterized by pronounced manifestations: low temperature, which increases to 38-38. 5° during exacerbation. Characteristic symptoms of male prostatitis: deterioration of erection, hemospermia, prolonged sexual intercourse without orgasm, difficulty urinating.Category IIIb - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation. In this case, the manifestations are diagnosed exclusively by instrumental research methods.
- Category IV—
Asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis. It is considered a poorly understood disease with an incompletely understood etiology. Some leading urologists suggest that the cause of the disease is related to age. There are no symptoms of pathology.
Prostatitis is difficult to cure even in the early stages. To achieve a stable remission, it will be necessary to eliminate the causes - catalysts, to deal with the complications and consequences that arise.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Prostate inflammation is a serious pathology that affects men's health. Possible complications and consequences of the disease:
- erectile dysfunction- Scars and adhesions, the result of inflammation, prevent normal blood flow in the cavernous vessels. At the same time, the prostate's ability to process testosterone deteriorates. Sexual desire decreases. In the acute period, friction and ejaculation bring pain. All of the above causes the erection to deteriorate. In some cases, complete sexual impotence is diagnosed.
- Infertility— chronic inflammation affects not only the prostate, but also spreads to neighboring parts and organs of the genitourinary system. Degenerative disorders are often manifested in the ligament: testicles + glandular tissue. The quality and volume of spermatogenesis deteriorates. Getting pregnant from a man with advanced prostatitis is problematic.
- Development of related diseases- inflammation can spread to neighboring organs of the genitourinary system:
- urethral canal,
- bladder,
- kidneys,
- scrotum
- Death— there is a danger of death in purulent disease. If the treatment of acute male prostatitis is not started in a timely manner and purulent formations appear that develop into an abscess, the patient's life is in danger. A ruptured cavity towards the rectum leads to general intoxication and may result in death.
In severe cases, surgery is required. Unlike adenoma or malignant hyperplasia, surgery is prescribed extremely rarely and does not guarantee relapse prevention.
Which doctor treats prostatitis
Everything depends on the manifestations of the disease. The urologist remains in charge. This specialist deals with pathologies of the male genitourinary system, including inflammation of the prostate. In case of some violations, it will be necessary to involve doctors of other specializations.
Current clinical guidelines indicate the need to promote:
- Psychiatrist— help is needed if pain and other manifestations create psychological rejection of sexual relations, impotence without physical disorders.
- Immunologist— long-term antibacterial and drug therapy causes a strong blow to the body. Protective functions and the ability to resist infection are reduced. Some forms of prostatitis begin with autoimmune diseases. In each of these situations, the help of an immunologist will be needed.
- A surgeon— the opening of purulent abscesses, the performance of TUR, prostatectomy and the removal of calcifications are performed by a specialist. The help of a surgeon will be needed to remove adhesions in the seminal ducts and restore reproductive function.
Such a large number of specialists needed to completely cure the patient convincingly proves that it is impossible to cure prostatitis on your own, and even less to get rid of complications. Qualified help is needed.
How to recognize prostatitis
The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that the inflammation develops asymptomatically for a long time in a latent form. The first signs of prostatitis are often attributed to: fatigue, radiculitis, diseases of the genitourinary system. The pain stops after taking an analgesic or an anti-spasm pill. But inflammation of the prostate continues until the disorders become global. A man goes to the doctor, where he is given an unpleasant diagnosis.
However, the most effective way to get rid of prostatitis is early diagnosis and immediate treatment. The chances of a complete cure are about 80%.
In order to distinguish inflammation from other diseases, several diagnostic tests are performed:
- Rectal method— the doctor probes the structure of the gland by inserting a finger into the anus, which makes it possible to identify any anomalies and deviations.
- Ultrasound and TRUS— Ultrasound diagnostics remains the research standard due to its low cost and availability. The monitor shows the loose structure of the gland, which indicates inflammation, it is possible to detect calcifications and other signs of prostatitis.
- Clinical and biochemical blood and urine tests- show the presence of inflammation, and also identify the infectious agent.
- Spermogram- reduced sperm vitality and speed, characteristic signs of congestive prostatitis and glandular tissue obstruction. Bacteria and pathogens are found in the ejaculate during an infectious disease.
- MRI and PET-CT- the most reliable diagnostic methods. Due to the high cost, the examination is prescribed only if the results of previously performed tests are unclear, as well as if cancer is suspected.
Tomography reveals signs of prostatitis at an early stage, which is unattainable by other diagnostic methods. If abnormalities in the functioning of the prostate are suspected, MRI remains the preferred type of instrumental examination.
How long it takes to heal
Stories of miraculous deliverance in a few days are nothing more than stories. There is no quick way to cure prostatitis. After diagnosing inflammation, you have to adapt to long-term therapy and radical changes in eating habits and lifestyle. Only in this case will it be possible to defeat the disease.
Modern and effective methods of treating prostatitis have made it possible to shorten the duration of therapy. With an integrated approach, significant improvements can be achieved within 2-3 months.
Doctors have learned to deal with the consequences of prostatitis. Unique therapy methods help to eliminate infertility, restore normal erection and increase sexual desire.
After achieving stable remission, you will need to take regular herbal remedies, attend physical therapy for prevention, and maintain men's health in other ways.
How is prostatitis treated?
There is no effective pill, after taking which all unpleasant symptoms will disappear. There is also no such miracle cure among traditional medicine. The best methods of treating prostatitis in men with proven effectiveness include an integrated approach: drugs + physical therapy + unconventional methods.
Official medicine offers conservative treatment. After completing the course, unpleasant symptoms and negative manifestations of the disease disappear. In the second phase, the task is to eliminate the resulting complications.
Advanced non-invasive methods have increased the chances of a favorable outcome of the disease. Surgery is required in no more than 10-15% of cases.
With the help of drugs
Conservative therapy is carried out in order to eliminate symptoms. The following groups of drugs are prescribed:
- NSAIDs- relieve inflammation, heat and fever. They have a mild analgesic effect. Once prostatitis starts, short-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins is needed to keep the gland in a normal state. Medicines are available in suppositories, tablets and injections.
- Antibiotics- designed to remove infectious or bacteriological inflammatory factors. The prostatitis treatment regimen is prescribed after the pathogen has been identified and its antibiotic resistance tested. The course of treatment is 7-10 days. In more severe cases, the therapy is extended to two weeks.
- Hormones- it is recommended if the usual course of medication has not brought any benefit, as well as in the case of a decrease in sexual desire due to an advanced disease. Hormonal treatment is prohibited in the early stages. Medicines are taken under the strict supervision of a urologist.
- Symptomatic drugs— take acetylsalicylic acid tablets to relieve pain. Spasms are removed with an antispasmodic agent. Blockade with anesthetic is indicated for persistent intense pain.
- Vitaminsand drugs to maintain prostate function. During the period of remission, it is recommended to take medication to normalize metabolism and improve blood supply to gland tissue and juice production. Herbal medicines are prescribed for this purpose. A complex of vitamins and minerals is indicated for strengthening the immune system.
Self-medication is dangerous and does more harm than good. Before taking any of these drugs, it is necessary to consult a urologist.
Use of physiotherapy
Prostatitis is characterized by great congestion in the pelvic region, which significantly complicates therapy. Taking drugs proves to be ineffective, because the active components simply cannot be delivered to the prostate by blood vessels.
In order to increase the effectiveness of drug therapy, immediately after easing the exacerbation, physiotherapy is included in the treatment of prostatitis in men.
In addition to traditional electrophoresis, the following techniques are also prescribed:
- UHF and microwave.
- Magnetotherapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Galvanization.
- Ultraphonophoresis.
- Laser treatment.
- Heat therapy.
Most of the mentioned interventions are included in the complex of techniques used in spa treatment. Contraindications for physiotherapy remain: acute period of inflammation, development of tumor tumors, individual intolerance of the patient.
Natural remedies
Modern methods of treating prostatitis increasingly combine official methods with alternative medicine. In ancient times, our ancestors treated prostatitis with herbal infusions, decoctions and bee products. The disease itself did not disappear, but the unpleasant symptoms eased.
Some methods have survived to this day:
- Apitherapy— bee products are used to eliminate inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Honey is a natural antibiotic. It is used in the treatment of: death, propolis, wax, pollen, poison. Compresses and honey massage, tinctures are made.
- Plant collections- urological preparations are sold in pharmacies and you can prepare them yourself. Herbs treat urinary disorders, relieve inflammation and pain. Some plants are good antiseptics. Decoctions and teas are prepared from the collections, which are added during the preparation of compotes and tinctures.
In the old days, there were no hospitals or pharmacies. Diseases were solved using the gifts of "Mother Nature". After prescribing a course of drugs, the urologist will definitely recommend one of the alternative medicine recipes: herbal therapy or apitherapy.
Only an integrated approach to the fight against prostatitis will help you get rid of the disease once and for all. The success of the treatment depends on early diagnosis and careful adherence to the urologist's recommendations.