Diseases of the genitourinary system in men are difficult to treat and recur. Prostate pathologies affect hormone levels, emotional state, and erectile and urogenital function.
The treatment of prostatitis in men is complicated by the fact that the diseases practically do not manifest themselves symptomatically in the early stages of development. The first signs appear when the disease has progressed. Early diagnosis and an appropriately prescribed course of therapy are the key to a favorable prognosis in the fight against pathology.
What is Prostatitis?
With a few exceptions, the term "prostatitis" refers to chronic or acute inflammation of the prostate gland. The manifestations of prostatitis in men are similar to the symptoms of other diseases of the genitourinary system. The process leads to blockage of the glandular tissue and the appearance of the following disorders:
- Dysuric disorders.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- pain syndrome.
The disease leads to the formation of adhesions and scars. Tissue metabolism and blood flow gradually deteriorate. Irreversible changes occur that can only be corrected through surgery. Depending on the etiology and stage of development, there are different types of disorders.
Categories of prostatitis
Against the background of congestion in the pelvic area, inflammation of the prostate develops. The process quickly becomes chronic. The best time for treatment is in the early stages of the disease.
Medical reference books describe 4 types of the disease with characteristic symptoms and manifestations:
- Category I—Acute prostatitis.The trigger is an infection that has penetrated the tissue, injury and hypothermia of the gland. The inflammation occurs suddenly and lasts 3-4 days. Without the necessary therapy, it becomes chronic. Manifestations:
- high temperature,
- Fever,
- Pain in the pelvic and lumbar areas,
- Poisoning of the body.
- Category II—Chronic bacterial prostatitis.It begins with an exacerbation. Reason for occurrence: interrupted course of antibiotics, self-medication. The inflammation is latent and without visible manifestations until the immune system is weakened to such an extent that the infection triggers an exacerbation of the disease. Treatment begins with antibiotics and NSAIDs.
- Category III—Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).A disease caused by acute inflammation of the prostate. Disorders develop slowly, irreversible changes occur, leading to tissue obstruction. Stasis inflammation, in turn, is divided into two subgroups:
- Category IIIa – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation.It is characterized by pronounced manifestations: low-grade fever, increasing to 38–38. 5° during an exacerbation. Characteristic symptoms of male prostatitis: worsening of erection, hematospermia, prolonged sexual intercourse without orgasm, impaired urination.
- Category IIIb – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation.In this case, the manifestations are diagnosed exclusively using instrumental research methods.
- Category IV—Asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.It is a poorly understood disease with an incompletely understood etiology. Some leading urologists suspect an age-related cause of the disease. There are no pathological symptoms.
Even at an early stage, it is difficult to cure prostatitis. In order to achieve stable remission, the causes - catalysts - must be eliminated and the complications and consequences that arise must be managed.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Inflammation of the prostate is a serious disease that negatively affects men's health. Possible complications and consequences of the disease:
- erectile dysfunction- Scars and adhesions caused by 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 phase, friction and ejaculation cause pain. All this leads to a deterioration in erection. In some cases, complete sexual impotence is diagnosed.
- infertility— Chronic inflammation affects not only the prostate, but also spreads to adjacent parts and organs of the urogenital system. Degenerative diseases often manifest themselves in the ligament: testicles + glandular tissue. The quality and volume of spermatogenesis deteriorate. Getting pregnant by a man with advanced prostatitis is problematic.
- Development of related diseases- Inflammation can spread to neighboring organs of the urogenital system:
- urethral canal,
- Bladder,
- kidneys,
- scrotum
- Death— A purulent illness is life-threatening. If treatment of acute male prostatitis does not begin on time and purulent formations appear that develop into an abscess, the patient's life is in danger. A ruptured cavity towards the rectum causes general intoxication and can result in death.
If the illness is severe, surgery is required. Unlike adenomas or malignant hyperplasia, surgery is prescribed extremely rarely and does not guarantee prevention of relapse.
Which doctor treats prostatitis?
It all depends on the manifestations of the disease. The urologist remains the main responsible person. This specialist deals with pathologies of the male urogenital system, including inflammation of the prostate. Some violations require the involvement of doctors from other specialties.
Current clinical guidelines indicate the need to promote:
- psychiatrist— Help is needed when pain and other manifestations lead to psychological rejection of sexual relations or 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 infections are reduced. Some forms of prostatitis begin with autoimmune diseases. In each of these situations, the help of an immunologist is required.
- The surgeon— Opening purulent abscesses, performing TUR, prostatectomy and removing calcifications is carried out by a specialist. To remove adhesions in the seminiferous ducts and restore reproductive function, the help of a surgeon is required.
Such a number of specialists required for a complete cure of the patient convincingly proves that it is impossible to cure prostatitis alone, let alone eliminate complications. Qualified help is required.
How to recognize prostatitis?
The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that the inflammation develops asymptomatically in a latent form over a long period of time. The first signs of prostatitis are often attributed to the following: fatigue, radiculitis, diseases of the genitourinary system. After taking a painkiller or antispasmodic tablet, the pain stops. But the 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 around 80%.
To distinguish inflammation from other diseases, several diagnostic tests are performed:
- Rectal method— The doctor examines the structure of the gland by inserting a finger into the anus to detect any abnormalities and deviations.
- Ultrasound and TRUS— Ultrasound diagnostics remains the standard in research due to its low cost and availability. The monitor shows a loose structure of the gland, indicating inflammation; calcifications and other signs of prostatitis may be noted.
- Clinical and biochemical tests of blood and urine- detect the presence of inflammation and also identify an infectious agent.
- Spermogram- reduced vitality and speed of sperm, characteristic signs of congestive prostatitis and blockage of glandular tissue. In the case of an infectious disease, bacteria and pathogens are found in the ejaculate.
- MRI and PET-CT- the most reliable diagnostic methods. Due to the high cost, an examination is only prescribed if the results of previously carried out examinations are unclear and cancer is suspected.
Tomography shows signs of prostatitis in the early stages, which cannot be achieved with other diagnostic methods. If prostate dysfunction is suspected, MRI remains the preferred type of instrumental examination.
How long will the treatment take?
Stories of miraculous deliverance within a few days are nothing more than fairy tales. There is no quick way to treat prostatitis. After the diagnosis of inflammation, you need to prepare for long-term therapy and radical changes in eating habits and lifestyle. Only in this case it is 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 methods of therapy help eliminate infertility, restore normal erection and increase sexual desire.
After achieving stable remission, you need to regularly take herbal medicines, attend physiotherapy sessions for prevention and otherwise maintain men's health.
How is prostatitis treated?
There is no effective pill after taking which all unpleasant symptoms will disappear. There is no such miracle cure in traditional medicine either. The best methods of treating prostatitis in men with proven effectiveness include an integrated approach: medications + physiotherapy + unconventional methods.
Official medicine offers conservative treatment. After completing the course, unpleasant symptoms and negative manifestations of the disease disappear. In the second step, the task is to eliminate the complications that have arisen.
Advanced non-invasive methods have increased the chances of a favorable course of the disease. Surgery is required in no more than 10-15% of cases.
With the help of medication
Conservative therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms. The following groups of drugs are prescribed:
- NSAIDs- Relieves inflammation, heat and fever. They have a mild pain-relieving effect. When prostatitis begins, short-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins is required to keep the gland in a normal state. The medications are available in suppositories, tablets and injections.
- Antibiotics- Designed to eliminate infectious or bacteriological inflammatory factors. The treatment regimen for prostatitis is prescribed after identifying the pathogen and testing its resistance to antibiotics. The duration of treatment is 7-10 days. In severe cases, therapy is extended to two weeks.
- Hormones- recommended when usual medication has not brought any benefit, as well as in cases of reduced sexual desire due to an advanced disease. Early treatment with hormones is prohibited. The medication is taken under the strict supervision of a urologist.
- Symptomatic medications— To eliminate pain, take acetylsalicylic acid tablets. Cramps are eliminated by an antispasmodic. If severe pain persists, a block with an anesthetic is indicated.
- Vitaminsand medications to maintain prostate function. During the remission period, it is recommended to take medications to normalize metabolism and improve blood supply to glandular tissue and juice production. Herbal medicines are prescribed for this purpose. A complex of vitamins and minerals is indicated to strengthen the immune system.
Self-medication is dangerous and does more harm than good. Before taking any of these medications, you should consult a urologist.
With physiotherapy
Prostatitis is characterized by large-scale congestion in the pelvic area, which makes therapy significantly more difficult. Taking medication proves to be ineffective because the active ingredients simply cannot reach the prostate via the blood vessels.
To increase the effectiveness of drug therapy, physiotherapy is included in the treatment of prostatitis immediately after the exacerbation is relieved in men.
In addition to traditional electrophoresis, the following techniques are prescribed:
- UHF and microwave.
- Magnetic field therapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Electroplating.
- Ultraphonophoresis.
- Laser treatment.
- Heat therapy.
Most of the listed procedures belong to the complex of techniques used in spa treatment. Contraindications to physiotherapy remain: acute inflammatory phase, development of tumor tumors, individual intolerance of the patient.
Natural remedies
Modern methods of treating prostatitis are increasingly combining official methods with alternative medicine. In ancient times, our ancestors treated prostatitis with herbal teas, decoctions and bee products. The disease itself did not disappear, but the unpleasant symptoms were relieved.
Some methods have survived to this day:
- Apitherapy— Beekeeping products are used to eliminate inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Honey is a natural antibiotic. To treat: death, propolis, wax, pollen, poison. Compresses and honey massage, tinctures are prepared.
- Herbal collections- Urological preparations are sold in pharmacies and can be prepared yourself. Herbs treat urinary tract disorders, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Some plants are good antiseptics. Decoctions and teas are prepared from the collections and added when preparing compotes and tinctures.
There used to be neither hospitals nor pharmacies. Ailments were treated with the gifts of "Mother Nature". After prescribing a course of medications, the urologist will definitely recommend one of the recipes of alternative medicine: herbal medicine or apitherapy.
Only an integrated approach to the fight against prostatitis will help get rid of the disease once and for all. The success of treatment depends on early diagnosis and careful adherence to the urologist's recommendations.