Prostatitis

15 November 2026

Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate gland (prostate) that develops as a result of inflammatory changes in it.According to statistics, the prevalence of the disease reaches 35-50% and is detected in men aged 20-40 years.

The types

There are 4 forms of prostatitis:

acute (bacterial);
chronic bacterial;
chronic nonbacterial;
chronic asymptomatic.

Acute prostatitis is very rare due to the rapid course of the inflammatory process and the sudden transition to the chronic phase (false improvement).

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, otherwise called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be inflammatory (with an increased content of leukocytes in urine and ejaculate) and non-inflammatory in nature.

reason

The cause of acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi).The most common sources of inflammation are:

coli;
streptococci;
staphylococci;
Proteus;
Klebsiella;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
causative agents of sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonococci, trichomonas, cytomegalovirus and others).

Most microorganisms are found in the intestines, on the skin, but when they enter the prostate tissue, they cause an inflammatory process.As a rule, the cause of the disease is not a single pathogen, but an association of several types of microbes.

The development of chronic prostatitis can be caused by the following factors:

concomitant diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
sedentary lifestyle ("sedentary" work);
tendency to constipation;
weakening of the body's defenses;
injuries;
hormonal imbalance;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
promiscuity;
irregular sex life (long-term abstinence);
interrupted sexual relations;
irregular emptying of the bladder;
unsatisfied sexual desire;
chronic stress;
hypothermia;
the presence of tooth decay and other sources of chronic infection (for example, chronic tonsillitis).

Symptoms of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is a very secretive disease.It is quite difficult to "catch" it, since, firstly, the process very quickly becomes chronic, and secondly, most patients prefer to "reduce" the manifestations of acute prostatitis at home.Patients with prostate inflammation often consult a doctor in advanced cases with erectile dysfunction and other consequences.

The acute form of the disease occurs against the background of:

elevated temperature;
chills;
other signs of intoxication (weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.).

Inflammation of the prostate gland is accompanied by pain in the perineum, in the groin area and in the scrotum.

Painful and frequent urination is also typical.Sometimes white purulent secretions can be observed in the urine.

In addition, the patient may notice the absence of erections at night and in the morning, erections of poor quality during intimacy and a sharp shortening of sexual intercourse.

Typical symptoms of a urinary disorder appear: a weak flow of urine and frequent urges, although little urine is produced.

Then, in the absence of treatment, chronic prostatitis reaches its apogee: disorders of sexual function appear.For example:

insufficient erection or its absence;
painful erections, due to which the patient avoids sexual intercourse;
deletion of orgasm;
short sexual relations;
painful discharge.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis accounts for 95% of all prostatitis;it mainly affects men around 30 years old.It is characterized by constant or periodic pain in the area of the pelvis, prostate and scrotum, without signs of inflammation in laboratory tests.The causes of the disease have not been precisely determined.

Diagnosing

During the diagnosis of acute and chronic prostatitis, in addition to collecting complaints, anamnesis and examination of the patient, the following methods are used:

general analysis of blood and urine;
microscopic examination of the prostate secretion and its inoculation in a nutrient medium to identify the pathogen (the secretion is obtained after digital massage of the prostate gland through the rectum);
cytological examination of urine;
Ultrasound of prostate and pelvic organs;
computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI);
stain from the urethra for microflora.

Differential diagnosis aims to distinguish between prostatitis, prostate adenoma, prostate cancer and signs of stones in the prostate gland.

A complete list of diagnostic procedures and medications for the treatment of prostatitis is in the 2012 Federal Standard of Care.

Treatment of prostatitis

The same symptoms may be signs of different diseases and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.Do not try to treat yourself - consult a doctor.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out by a urological surgeon.

The goal of etiotropic treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of prostatitis is to eliminate the pathogen.Depending on the identified cause, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal drugs are prescribed.The duration of therapy for acute prostatitis is 7-10 days, for a chronic process - 4-8 weeks.

To treat a bacterial infection, the following tools are used: