Symptoms and signs of prostatitis in men

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process, the focus is on the prostate.Another common name for it is prostate.This disease and the pain in the pelvis (groin area) that accompanies it are accompanied by pain in and around the prostate.

Most cases of pain occur due to the following causes:

  • infection;
  • inflammation;
  • some health problems.

Prostatitis can occur in any man, both in middle age and in youth.Do not neglect the prevention of prostatitis in men.

The role of the prostate in the body

The prostate is a small, round, irregular gland that is part of the male reproductive system.The location of the gland is below the bladder, just in front of the rectum.Surrounded by muscles and nerves, the prostate contains the urethra or urethra (the tube that carries urine and sperm out of the body).

The prostate has a specific job - to help create a liquid environment for sperm.
This semen protects and energizes the sperm as it moves to the female's egg.

The first signs of the development of prostatitis

There are very few signs of this disease.But if you find yourself having at least 2 of the following symptoms -Consult a urologist immediately.

  • Urine flow is slow or wideunder 20cm.
  • Difficulty, drop by drop, urinating.
  • Pain and burning when urinating.
  • Discontinuous, branching, jetting, process duration.
  • Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
  • Frequent urination at night.
  • Pain between genitals and anus.

We advise you not to self-diagnose, but to undergo all necessary tests in the hospital.

Prostatitis has a complex pathogenesis, and self-medication based on general symptoms poses a serious danger to your health.Only a urologist can make an accurate diagnosis after a series of tests.

Types and symptoms of prostatitis

There are 4 types of diseases:

  1. Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
  2. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).
  3. Acute (sudden) bacterial prostatitis.
  4. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis

This health problem can last for many years, despite treatment.The most common pathogen is Escherichia coli (lat.Escherichia coli).

Characteristic symptoms of this form:

  • Burning feeling when urinating.
  • Frequent need to urinate at night.
  • Pain in the bladder, testicles and penis, as well as between the genitals and anus.
  • Painful ejaculation.

Treatment is based on antibiotics.In most cases, your doctor prescribes medication and you should take it6 to 8 weeks.After completing therapyup to 50%The patient relapsed.Therefore, after the disease has subsided, we must not forget about disease prevention.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)

CP/CPPS is the most common type of the disease.Symptoms are similar to bacterial prostatitis, but the pathogen has not been identified.

CP/CPPS can be caused by bacteria, especially chlamydia, mycoplasma (which is sexually transmitted), or ureaplasma.Or prostatitis in men develops if the body reacts to a past infection or injury.

Treatment options includealpha 1 blockersandanti-inflammatory drugs.In many cases, simple measures such as applying heat, bathing or relaxing will bring improvement.

Of course, at present there is no most effective treatment.Therefore, treatment for CPPS is lengthy and often not very successful.For the patient, this often represents severe psychological stress, which in turn can negatively affect the course of the disease.Therefore, psychological support or psychotherapy is very desirable.

Acute (sudden) bacterial prostatitis

Its symptoms often appear suddenly.In most cases, the causative agent is Escherichia coli (lat.Escherichia coli).

Normal prostate (left) and prostatitis with prostatitis (right)

Because the acute form is a bacterial disease, it is treated with antibiotics.Antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone group are used here.Prompt treatment can resolve this problem and prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

Acute pain forces you to seek medical help immediately.

The patient exhibits the following symptoms:

  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder.
  • Intense burning sensation when going to the toilet.

Asymptomatic prostatitis

The danger of this disease is that it occurs in secret without causing you to worry about the symptoms.This type may be discovered during inspection for other types of problems.

The reason why the mechanism of this form is activated remains largely unclear.The nerves and muscles in the groin begin to ache due to infection, inflammation, and other problems.

Cause of the disease

Doctors have identified several possible causes, including:

  • Bacterial infection was previously discovered in the prostate.
  • Atypical bacteria (antibiotic resistant).
  • Irritation caused by urine accumulating in the prostate.
  • Problems with nerve connections in the lower urinary tract.
  • Parasites.
  • Problems with the pelvic muscles.
  • Viruses and reduced immunity.
  • A sedentary lifestyle leads to poor circulation.
  • Having sex infrequently or not having sex at all.

What risk factors exist for the development of prostatitis?

The cause of most cases of inflammation is not fully understood.Some things may increase your risk of bacterial prostatitis:

  1. a new catheter (tube that carries fluid out of the body) or other device into the urethra has been inserted;
  2. Abnormal structure of the urinary tract;
  3. recent bladder infection;
  4. hypothermia.

Can prostatitis be prevented?

Most cases of the disease cannot be prevented.Practicing safe sex can only reduce the risk of diseases caused by bacteria.So, having sex with a regular partner you trust is another factor that affects men's health.

How is prostatitis in men diagnosed?

Physical examination

Your doctor may perform a manual rectal examination (MRE) of your rectum:

  1. It occurs by inserting a lubricated finger of a sterile gloved hand into the anal opening.
  2. The doctor will press on the prostate and feel whether it is enlarged or in a normal, soft state.
  3. Lumps or firmness may suggest the presence of prostate cancer.
  4. The specialist will ask you how much pain or discomfort you feel when touching the area near the gland.
  5. If you are sick, examination can be inconvenient and painful.
  6. But it will not cause any harm and will not cause long-term pain.

Do lab tests

If your doctor suspects you have a problem with your prostate and nearby tissues, he or she will send you to a urologist.

If you have symptoms of prostatitis, you should be tested for potential infections.

Urologistis an expert in addressing problems of the urinary tract and male reproductive system.A urologist or other specialist may order tests to find the cause and how to help.

Each type of disease requires different treatment.

Your doctor will be able to determine the type of disease you have to make sure other health problems are not contributing to your symptoms.Many tests are used to find the answer.

supersonic

To take a closer look at the prostate, your doctor may order a rectal exam using ultrasound.supersonicuses sound waves reflected from an organ to check its condition.To “see” the source of the inflammation, an ultrasound probe is placed into the anus.This procedure does not cause any deterioration, so there is no need to be afraid.

Do a smear test

Your doctor will test your urine and prostate fluid to find the cause of the problem.During manual rectal examination, when massaging the prostate, fluid flows out from the penis, which is identified as prostatic secretions.

Test method to diagnose prostatitis

Urine and clear feces are examined for microflora.Test results may indicate whether the problem is in the urinary tract, prostate or bladder.

Blood and semen are also tested for bacteria, white blood cells, or other symptoms of infection.Additionally, if you have recently been treated with antibiotics, your test results will also change.

Diagnosis is by cystoscopy

A urologist looks inside your urinary tract, prostate, and bladder with a cystoscope.It's a long, thin telescope with a light bulb at the end.First, the doctor will give you anesthesia.He will then carefully insert the cystoscope into your bladder and analyze the condition of your organs.

Can prostatitis cause cancer?

Although prostatitis causes a lot of discomfort, it is not capable of causing cancer.There is a blood test that doctors recommend to determine the presence of tumors.It's called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.During inflammation, PDA levels may increase.This does not mean you have cancer.Your doctor will measure PDA levels several times during treatment.

Do not forget that you must constantly monitor your health and comply with preventive recommendations.Be healthy and don't get sick!