Prostatitis is a special disease that mainly occurs in men of childbearing age.It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate, the second "heart" of the male.
The signs of prostatitis in men are not always easy to recognize, especially when the pathology has a chronic course and no previous acute phase.If the process is acute, in this case, the symptoms of prostatitis in men will be very typical and obvious.
If a man experiences the first signs of prostatitis, he should seek medical attention immediately.Even mild discomfort (indicating the development of a genitourinary disorder) can have serious complications.
The ability to recognize the first symptoms of the inflammatory process allows you to promptly diagnose the pathology and initiate treatment.Therefore, every man should be familiar with them to avoid serious problems caused by prostatitis.
The prostate and its role in men’s lives
The prostate may be small, but if its function is compromised, men may experience a number of problems.The prostate is a nut-sized organ located between the penis and bladder.The prostate produces a secretion that mixes with sperm to form complete semen.
Unlike other prostate diseases that often affect older men, such as prostatic hypertrophy or cancer, prostatitis can occur at any age, but peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 50.
Types of prostatitis
Depending on the severity of symptoms, time of onset and duration of the disease, two pathological variants can be distinguished:
- Chronic prostatitis.Symptoms can be subtle and come and go over several months.This is the most common type of prostatitis; the cause of the inflammation is usually not contagious.
- Acute prostatitis.In this form, symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and occur suddenly.Variants of this disease are often caused by microbial infections.The condition can be serious and require immediate treatment, including hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis problem
The causes of prostatitis have been studied for a long time, but the understanding of the nature of the process has been significantly revised in recent years.Chronic prostatitis, sometimes called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a set of symptoms that can cause a significant deterioration in a man's quality of daily life.Doctors are not always able to recognize chronic prostatitis right away, and subsequent treatment is equally difficult, as it depends on the various causative factors and existing symptoms of prostatitis in men.
Contrary to the approach used in the past, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are based on separating chronic bacterial prostatitis from other forms of the disease and is considered a multifactorial disease.According to data published in Urology Research & Reports 2019, autoimmunity and systemic inflammation, neurological dysfunction, and psychological causes play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by a variety of symptoms related to the urinary organs, genitals, rectum, and perineum, and men can often undergo long-term treatment for other conditions until the problem is eventually discovered to be inflammation of the prostate.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
If there is acute inflammation of the prostate, it is relatively simple to identify; the symptoms are very bright and obvious.The first signs of prostatitis in men include:
- Severe pain that spreads to the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- Urination problems, pain when the bladder is full, needing to urinate frequently (especially at night), intermittent urination, urgency to urinate, and sometimes blood in the urine;
- Acute urinary retention may occur against the background of severe swelling of the prostate and severe pain;
- Malaise, fever, nausea;
- A light, thick, odorless discharge from the urethra.
If you notice these or other signs of prostatitis in men, you should consult a doctor or urologist immediately.
Chronic Inflammation: Symptoms of Prostatitis in Men
We can talk about a chronic process if the following symptoms of prostatitis in men have been detected for at least the past three months:
- Pain around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back that is pulling, compressing, or aching in 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 this may be normal in some cases.
- Intimate problems such as erectile dysfunction, pain during ejaculation, or pelvic pain after sex.
These symptoms can have a significant impact on a man's quality of life.If left untreated, the condition will gradually worsen and symptoms of prostatitis will appear more and more frequently.
How is the exam conducted?
When a man shows the first signs of prostatitis, it is necessary to contact a urologist for a complete diagnosis.The doctor will ask in detail about all symptoms and events and health problems that preceded the onset.Genital, abdominal and rectal examinations will then be performed.The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate.During the exam, you may feel uncomfortable if your prostate is enlarged or inflamed.Blood and urine tests are also ordered to look for signs of infection.
How is prostatitis treated?
Treatment strategies for prostatitis depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
For acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, painkillers and a 2-4 week course of antibiotics are usually prescribed.If acute urinary retention occurs, hospitalization and emergency measures—bladder intubation, urinary diversion, and intensive therapy—are required.
Treatment for chronic prostatitis usually aims to eliminate all discomfort when symptoms appear and disappear over a few months.Your doctor may recommend the following procedures:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications to eliminate pelvic pain and discomfort.
- Alpha-blocker medicine that eliminates urinary problems.They help relax the muscles at the base of the prostate and bladder.
- Occasionally, antibiotics may be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or if there are signs of a previous acute process that was not treated.
The goal of treatment for chronic prostatitis is to reduce symptoms to a level that does not interfere with daily activities.