Prostatitis is a specific disease, typical mainly for men of reproductive age. It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland - the second "heart" of a man.
It is not always easy to distinguish the signs of prostatitis in men, 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 a mild disease, which indicates 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 diagnose the pathology in time and start its treatment. Therefore, every man should be familiar with them to avoid serious problems caused by prostatitis.
The prostate and its role in a man's life
Although the prostate is small, if its function is impaired, a man can experience many problems. The prostate is an organ about the size of a walnut, located between the penis and the bladder. The prostate produces a secretion that mixes with the sperm to form seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate conditions, such as prostate hypertrophy or cancer, which often affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but the incidence peaks between the ages of 30 and 50.
Types of prostatitis
According to 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 and the causes of inflammation are usually non-infectious.
- Acute prostatitis. In this form, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and develop suddenly. This variant of the disease most often provokes a microbial infection, the condition can be serious and requires immediate treatment, up to hospitalization.
Problems of chronic prostatitis
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 referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a set of symptoms that can cause a significant deterioration in the quality of daily life for men. It is not always possible for a doctor to immediately determine chronic prostatitis, and subsequent treatment is no less difficult to choose, as it depends on various causative factors and symptoms of prostatitis in men.
Unlike the approaches used in the past, diagnosis and subsequent treatment is based on the separation of chronic bacterial prostatitis and 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 dysfunctions and psychological causes play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
For chronic pelvic pain syndrome, various symptoms related to the urinary organs, genital organs, rectum and perineum are typical, and often men can be treated for a long time for other pathologies, until finally it turns out that the problem is inflammation. of the prostate.
Signs of prostatitis in men
If acute inflammation of the prostate occurs, it is relatively easy to recognize it, the manifestations are quite bright and pronounced. The first signs of prostatitis in men include:
- severe pain that radiates around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen or back. Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- urinary problems, pain when the bladder is full, the need to urinate often (especially at night), interrupted 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 retention of urine is possible;
- malaise, fever, nausea;
- light thick discharge from the urethra, odorless.
If these or other signs of prostatitis in men are detected, you should immediately contact a therapist or urologist.
Chronic inflammation: symptoms of prostatitis in men
You can talk about a chronic process if the following symptoms of prostatitis in men have been detected for at least the last three months:
- pain around the penis, in the testicles, anus, at the bottom of the abdomen or in the lower back of a pulling, pressing or aching nature.
- pain during urination, frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night, or intermittent urination.
- an enlarged or tender prostate on rectal examination, although it may be normal in some cases.
- 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, the symptoms of prostatitis appear more often.
How is the examination performed?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men, you should contact a urologist who will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. The doctor will ask in detail about all the symptoms and events, the health problems that preceded it. Then the examination of the genitals, abdomen and rectum will be done. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate. During the study, discomfort is possible if the prostate gland is enlarged or inflamed. In addition, blood and urine tests are ordered to look for signs of infection.
How is prostatitis treated?
Prostatitis treatment tactics will depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
For acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, pain relievers and a 2- to 4-week course of antibiotics are usually given. If acute retention of urine occurs, hospitalization and emergency measures are necessary - catheterization of the bladder with the diversion of urine against the background of intensive treatment.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis, when symptoms come and go for several months, usually aims to eliminate all discomfort. Your doctor may suggest the following procedures:
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blocker drugs that eliminate problems with urination. They help relax the muscles of the prostate gland 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 has not been cured.
The goal of treatment for chronic prostatitis is to reduce symptoms to a level where they do not interfere with daily activities.