Frequent painful urination, perineal discomfort, pyrexia, decreased potency, and libido are problems faced by 80% of men between the ages of 45 and 50, but most postpone visiting the doctor until the pain subsides. becomes unbearable. Unpleasant symptoms indicate an inflammation of the prostate that requires urgent treatment: prostatitis in men quickly becomes chronic and can lead to infertility, sexual dysfunction and oncology.
What is prostatitis
The prostate gland is an organ that resembles a chestnut fruit in size and shape, and is located below the bladder. Its lower part is bordered by the crotch. The prostate in men performs the following functions: secretory - the production of sex hormones and secretions that determine the quality of sperm, and barrier - the separation of the processes of ejaculation and urination.
The second name of the gland is popularly used to denote a common ailment that affects approximately half of the male population: the older the man, the greater the risk of getting sick; Prostatitis is rarely diagnosed in men ages 20 to 25. The disease is dangerous with serious complications, so it is important to recognize it at an early stage.
The therapeutic course lasts up to 14 days, for a few more months, the patient is required to strictly adhere to preventive measures. If the disease has managed to adopt a chronic form, the risk of recurrence is 50%.
Classification
Treatment of the prostate gland in men is sometimes delayed for years. The disease temporarily takes an asymptomatic course to remember itself after a few months with a sharp decrease in immunity, violation of the intestinal microflora and other stressful situations for the body. Male prostate disease has several forms:
- Acute. It is characterized by a bacterial infection of the tissues of the prostate gland. Typical signs are severe pain syndrome, a critical rise in temperature. It is necessary to treat the disease in a hospital setting;
- Chronic bacterial. Periodic attenuation of symptoms is often perceived as a sign of recovery, but this is an illusion: each subsequent exacerbation is more severe than the previous ones due to the development of purulent foci, the appearance of neoplasms;
- AsymptomaticThe absence of symptoms with the active development of the disease. Such a prostate in men is often detected by chance, based on the results of urinalysis;
- Granulomatous. Termination of the functioning of the gland due to excessive growth of connective tissue;
- Pelvic pain syndrome. Difficult to diagnose form, accompanied by constant sensations of pain in the pelvic region, neurological and psycho-emotional disorders.
What does the prostate mean in men? First of all, the diagnosis means the need to reconsider the lifestyle, be patient and follow the doctor's recommendations; treatment can take a long time.
What Causes the Prostate in Men?
The reasons
The exact algorithm for the onset of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland has not been established, but a pattern has been revealed: the probability of getting sick increases with a decrease in general immunity. Why is this happening? Infectious pathogens, which enter the mucous membranes of a healthy person, are in a "dormant" state and do not spread until the moment when the protective functions of the body are weakened. This is how the male prostate begins to develop.
Factors that increase risk:
- Hypothermia;
- Injuries and contusions of the perineum;
- ETS;
- Inactive lifestyle, sedentary work;
- Inadequate sex life;
- Contraception by interruption of intercourse (incomplete ejaculation occurs);
- Stress, neurosis, depression;
- Bad habits: alcohol abuse, smoking;
- Drug poisoning.
Doctors also point to a link between the fashion for tight pants that squeeze the genitals and increased morbidity. Prostate gland symptoms in men who prefer skinny jeans are much more common than among those who adhere to a loose fit.
Chronic etiology
Permanent prostatitis in men is a consequence of improper treatment (or its complete absence) of acute inflammation of the prostate. Causes of exacerbations: sexually transmitted diseases, stressful situations at work and in the family, forced restriction of the emptying of the rectum or bladder, wearing tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
An additional factor is congestion in the small pelvis due to low mobility. A patient who has experienced on himself what the prostate is in man in an acute form must take all measures to prevent relapse: first, walk more on foot to activate blood circulation.
Swollen prostate gland in men symptoms
Acute prostatitis
There are three types of course of this form of the disease: catarrhal, follicular, parenchymal (the most dangerous). In the first case, the discomfort begins with pulling pains in the pubic region and a slight increase in temperature. Soon a man notices discomfort when urinating or having sex, a persistent feeling of fatigue.
The follicular type is characterized by severe pain in the penis and lower back: it does not allow the intestines and bladder to empty completely. If left untreated, the third type of disease develops.
Parenchymal prostate in men, what is it? Difficulty urinating turns into complete urinary retention, body temperature reaches 39-40 degrees, mucous discharge appears from the rectum. The condition is serious and requires immediate hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis
The symptomatology of this form is often blurred, not expressed, which complicates the diagnosis. The pain syndrome becomes permanent, is localized in the lower abdomen, and is fairly easily tolerated. Discomfort increases after intimacy.
Urination is a bit difficult: the stream of urine is intermittent. The wishes become more frequent. After physical exertion, an unusual discharge appears on the head of the penis. Erectile dysfunction is possible. The temperature is kept around 37 - 37. 3 C.
If symptoms of chronic prostatitis are observed in men, treatment should not be postponed: slow inflammation can lead to infertility.
Diagnostics
A timely visit to a urologist is the best solution for suspected inflammation of the prostate gland. During the appointment, the doctor will ask some questions about the health status and will examine the patient's medical history to obtain an anamnesis. In addition, an external examination and palpation of the organ through the rectum is performed.
To clarify the diagnosis, a number of studies are assigned:
- Secret analysis;
- Prostate ultrasound;
- Material sampling for PCR;
- MRI of the pelvic organs.
If necessary, the rate of urine flow during urination is measured with a special device, a urinary flow meter. Measurements are made in the clinic: the patient empties the bladder into a special vessel with a sensor that, at the end of the process, displays a graphic image.
Treatment of the prostate gland in men
Before prescribing a course of treatment, it is important to identify all the factors that provoked the inflammatory process. When the exact cause of prostatitis in men is discovered, treatment is more productive. The urologist develops an individual comprehensive program that includes the following elements:
- Drug therapyWith viral etiology, antiviral drugs are prescribed, and with an infectious lesion, antibacterial drugs. In parallel, suppositories and anti-inflammatory creams, immunostimulating agents and, if necessary, analgesics are used;
- Physiotherapy. The method is determined based on the image of the disease. It can be electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser sessions, UHF;
- Massage. The procedure is performed by the physician or (after training) the patient's spouse; emotional comfort and family support are of great importance to the sick person. The massage improves the discharge of purulent inflammatory secretions from the ducts of the prostate gland.
The effectiveness of the prescribed therapy is evaluated after 10-14 days: if there is a positive trend, the course continues after a short break. In the absence of improvements, a decision is made to cancel some medications and procedures and replace them with others.
Prophylaxis
The prostate in men, symptoms and treatment is a topic that every member of the stronger sex who has reached reproductive age should study in detail. Knowing the preventive measures will help prevent inflammation.
How to protect yourself from prostatitis? It is recommended to avoid hypothermia and unprotected sex, to get tested for STDs regularly. It is necessary to empty the bladder in a timely manner, choose baggy pants.