Prostatitis (prostatitis) is a very painful condition. But usually prostatitis is not limited to pain and causes even more serious symptoms. Which? How long does prostatitis usually last? And what helps it?
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate (prostate). The prostate can become inflamed, for example, as a result of bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue from the urinary tract. Depending on whether the cause of prostatitis is bacterial or not, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacterial;
- abacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four-centimeter gland located below the bladder in men. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces secretions that mix with sperm during ejaculation. This secretion ensures the motility of the sperm and provides support on the way to the female egg.
The prostate gland in men can become inflamed as a result of inflammation of the bladder or urethra, and the causative agents of the inflammation can be bacteria migrating from the bladder or urethra to the prostate. In this case, we are talking about acute prostatitis. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.
In about 5 out of 100 patients, the bacteria remain in the prostate despite treatment, so the inflammation remains unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Prostatitis is not always caused by bacteria
Other factors besides bacteria can cause prostatitis, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mental problems, stress, and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Because prostatitis occurs in this casenot because of bacteria, they call itabacterial prostatitis.
Abacterial prostatitis is sometimes called a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). However, this pain syndrome can also develop without prostatitis. In addition to inflammation, there are also non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note:In non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to those of prostatitis, but neither bacteria nor signs of inflammation are found.
However, in the official classification
prostatitis The US National Institutes of Health lists both inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of the syndromechronic pelvic pain.According to many, this is an introduction
doctors it can be misleading and, at worst, lead to inappropriate treatment. Unlike prostatitis, non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of prostatitis
Many factors contribute to inflammation of the prostate. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- operations in the urogenital area;
- unprotected anal sex.
Under these and other conditions, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause prostatitis. If bacteria enter the prostate, it can lead to bacterial prostatitis.
Abacterial prostatitis can have several causes. Let's take a closer look at the causes of both types of prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis
Most bacterial prostatitis is caused by intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli or enterococci. If they enter the urinary tract through the opening of the penis, they first cause an infection of the urethra or bladder, and then the pathogens enter the prostate gland, causing prostatitis.
Men with prostatitis in the hospital often have Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After catheterization of the bladder, they enter the urinary tract.
In rare cases, prostatitis develops as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the pathogens are primarily chlamydia.
Abacterial prostatitis
Any bacteria can be the culprit in abacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome). However, after the tests, leukocytes (white blood cells that protect the body) are found in the prostate and sperm. This indicates that the body is fighting inflammation.
What causes this inflammation, experts do not fully understand and do not study. This is probably the result of a combination of different factors. The following factors may play a role:
- impaired immune response;
- central nervous system disorders that affect the nerves and muscles of the urogenital system and prevent normal bladder emptying;
- mental disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
According to some experts, hidden infections can cause chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, this assumption is controversial.
Typical symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis include:
- frequent urination;
- burning sensation during urination (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during defecation;
- nausea, vomiting;
- fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and urination problems. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and then appear after a while. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a recurring course, with inflammation that fades and reappears. It can take many months.
Another characteristic sign of chronic inflammation of the prostate is erectile dysfunction.
Abacterial prostatitis, which is not caused by bacteria, causes essentially the same symptoms as chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic prostatitis
In rare cases, the doctor may notice an increased white blood cell count in the ejaculate or prostate secretions, but the affected person does not feel pain or other symptoms of prostatitis.
Such cases are classified as asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate and are usually discovered incidentally as part of a cancer or infertility screening.
Diagnostics
A doctor can diagnose acute bacterial prostatitis by asking the patient about his symptoms and examining the prostate. First, the doctor will feel the prostate with his finger. If warmth and swelling are felt in the prostate area and the patient feels pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also perform a urinalysis and take blood from the patient to check the level of inflammatory cells.
Chronic bacterial inflammation of the prostate cannot be diagnosed by palpation alone. For example, if the patient is between two inflammatory attacks, the doctor will not be able to detect severe swelling during palpation. Therefore, blood and urine tests are required to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
A urine sample is not enough to detect chronic prostatitis. Because if the urine contains white blood cells and bacteria, it can also indicate a urinary tract infection. To determine if the inflammation is affecting the prostate, your doctor will need to test several urine samples
Treatment of prostatitis
The treatment that helps prostatitis depends on the cause: if the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the therapy is different from the treatment of abacterial prostatitis. However, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called anti-inflammatory drugs) in both cases.
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
In the case of bacterial inflammation of the prostate, antibiotics help to eliminate the symptoms.
- In case of mild acute prostatitis, the doctor must prescribe an antibiotic from the Fluoroquinolone group, which the patient must take for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor may give the patient broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- If it is a chronic inflammation, the patient usually takes a fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of abacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control non-bacterial inflammation of the prostate with a combination of different drugs. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, so-calledalpha-1 receptor blockers. They relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder and thus facilitate bladder emptying.
Depending on whether your doctor suspects inflammation, additional measures may be necessary. For example, it has been suggested that psychological problems may also play a role in the development of non-bacterial prostatitis. In this case, the doctor may recommend psychotherapy.
In addition, thermal treatments such as baths can often be used to relieve symptoms.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for prostatitis serve as an alternative to drug therapy. It is used for bacterial prostatitis. Consult your doctor before using folk remedies.
Fireweed
St. John's wort has proven to be an excellent remedy for prostate diseases.
Fireweed is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has small flowers, usually white, but also available in various shades of red.
Fireweed seeds are small and have scales on their surface that help them spread.
There are about 200 species of fireweed, the plant is often considered a weed and can be very poisonous, but only fireweed has been shown to be beneficial. Flower and root are used. The content of biological active ingredients (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on prostate activity.
Using fireweed:
Add 1 heaped teaspoon of herbs to 1/4 liter of water, bring to a boil and let it brew for a short time (15 minutes). It should be drunk in sips throughout the day (up to 2 cups) cool.
This herb is used to treat various urological diseases, especially:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- in case of kidney diseases;
- in case of diseases of the bladder;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
St. John's wort is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, it is usually combined with other herbs, depending on the nature of the problems, most often with bilberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are probably the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is advisable to drink 3 cups of green tea a day.
This drink promotes frequent urination, which helps to cleanse the entire body. In addition, green tea is directly involved in detoxifying the body.
Advice!Men are advised to urinate while sitting. In this way, complete emptying of the bladder is achieved. The sitting position thoroughly releases all the pelvic muscles, as a result of which there is no residual urine in the bladder, in which some pathogenic bacteria would otherwise multiply quickly.
Nettle
2 handfuls of freshly picked nettle leaves - approx. from the top of the plant15 cm - it must be poured with 300 ml of drinking water and left overnight (for about 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be slightly warmed up and drunk.
Blueberry
Blueberries are one of the famous fighters against prostatitis. Cranberry home treatment includes consuming it in dried, fresh or canned form. In the latter case, however, one must beware of added sugar.
Cranberry juices are also available in stores. Here again, you should be careful and read the label carefully to make sure the juice doesn't contain added fruit juices or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has a healing effect.
Add dried cranberries to your porridge or oatmeal.
For whom cranberries are not suitable:
Blueberries are contraindicated for those taking blood-thinning medications. Cranberries can reduce the antiplatelet effect of the drug, leading to bleeding.
Ginger
When treating prostatitis, you can pay attention to another useful product - ginger root. Ginger is a promising product for the treatment of this disease. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, interrupts the reproduction cycle of cancer cells (which is particularly important in the treatment of prostate cancer), promotes apoptosis. However, ginger is not toxic to other rapidly growing cells.
It should be taken after a meal, adding the root to tea (preferably green).
Pumpkin seeds
As practice shows, the most effective way to treat prostatitis is to use fresh, not dried, pumpkin seeds.
Preparation:The pumpkin seeds must be crushed. The resulting mass is mixed in equal proportions with honey and heated slightly. Then you need to leave it in the refrigerator for several hours and then form it into walnut-sized balls.
The balls should be taken 1-2 times a day before meals.
For preventive purposes, you can eat 4-5 pumpkin seeds every day. They contain zinc, selenium and other biochemical substances that reduce inflammation in the body, including the prostate gland, and have a positive effect on the formation of the male hormone testosterone.
Chestnut
Chestnut is also effective and has no side effects, which is very important for the elderly.
Peel the chestnuts, break the seeds into small pieces, pour boiling water over them and let them stand for an hour.
The decoction should be taken 3 times a day before meals, 30 drops.
Regular sex
Regular sex, like masturbation, cleans the prostate, stimulates blood circulation and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotic prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually go away within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms should decrease significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts for several months and usually occurs in the form of relapses, between which the patient feels little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Can prostatitis be prevented?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent the spread of pathogens in the prostate and thus prostatitis. Using a condom can also help prevent prostatitis caused by certain sexually transmitted diseases.