Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) is a very painful condition. But usually prostatitis is not limited to pain only and causes more serious symptoms. which one? How long does prostate inflammation usually last? And what helps from it?
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate (prostate gland). The prostate can become inflamed due to, for example, bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue from the urinary tract. Depending on whether the cause of prostate inflammation is bacterial or not, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacteria;
- abacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four-centimeter gland, which in men is located below the bladder. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces secretions that mix with sperm during ejaculation. This secretion provides sperm motility and provides support on the journey to the female egg.
The prostate gland in men can become inflamed due to inflammation of the bladder or urethra (urethra), and the causative agent of inflammation can be bacteria that move 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, leaving the inflammation unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Bacteria are not always the cause of prostate inflammation
In addition to bacteria, there are other factors that can cause prostate inflammation, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mental problems, stress and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Since prostatitis in this case is not caused by bacteria, it is called abacterial prostatitis.
Sometimes abacterial prostatitis is called a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). However, this pain syndrome can also develop without prostate inflammation. In addition to inflammation, there is also a non-inflammatory form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note: In non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to prostatitis, but neither bacteria nor signs of inflammation are found.
However, the official classification of prostatitis by the US National Institutes of Health includes both inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
According to many, this confuses doctors and, in the worst case, can lead to the wrong treatment. Unlike inflammation of the prostate gland, non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of prostatitis
There are several factors that contribute to inflammation of the prostate gland. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- surgery in the urogenital area;
- unprotected anal sex.
Under these and other conditions, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation of the prostate gland. If bacteria enter the prostate, it can cause bacterial prostatitis.
Abacterial prostatitis can have more diverse causes. Let's take a closer look at the causes of both types of prostatitis.
Bacterial prostate
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 in the urethra or bladder, then the pathogen enters the prostate gland, causing inflammation of the prostate.
Men who get prostatitis in the hospital often have Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They enter the urinary tract after bladder catheterization.
In rare cases, inflammation of the prostate occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the causative agent is mainly chlamydia.
Abacterial prostatitis
In abacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome), any bacteria can be the cause. However, after testing, 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 is not fully understood and is being studied by experts. This is likely the result of the combined effects of various factors. The following factors may play a role:
- impaired immune response;
- a central nervous system disorder that affects the nerves and muscles of the genitourinary system and prevents a person from emptying their bladder normally;
- mental disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Some experts suggest that hidden infections may be the cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, this assumption is controversial.
Typical symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are:
- frequent urination;
- burning during urination (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during bowel movements;
- nausea vomiting;
- fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and problems with urination. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and then appear after a while. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a recurrent course with inflammation fading and reappearing. It can last for several months.
Another characteristic sign of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland is erectile dysfunction.
Abacterial inflammation of the prostate, which is not caused by bacteria, basically causes symptoms similar to chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate
In rare cases, doctors may detect an increase in the number of white blood cells in the ejaculate or prostate secretions, but the affected person may not feel pain or other symptoms of prostate inflammation.
Such cases are classified as asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate and are usually discovered incidentally as part of 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 feels the prostate with his finger. If, after palpation, warmth and swelling are felt in the prostate area, and the patient experiences pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also perform a urine test 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 attacks of inflammation, the doctor will not be able to detect severe swelling during palpation. Therefore, blood and urine tests are necessary to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
To detect chronic prostatitis, one urine sample is not enough. Because if the urine contains white blood cells and bacteria, this may also indicate a urinary tract infection. To find out if the inflammation is affecting the prostate, your doctor will need to examine some urine samples.
Treatment of prostatitis
What treatment will help with prostate inflammation depends on the cause: if the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the therapy will be different from the treatment of abacterial prostatitis. However, in both cases, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (called antiphlogistics).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
For bacterial inflammation of the prostate, antibiotics will help relieve symptoms.
- In the case of mild acute prostatitis, the doctor must prescribe an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone group, the patient must take it for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor can give the patient a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- In case of chronic inflammation, patients usually take fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of abacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control non-bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland using a combination of different drugs. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, they may also prescribe what are called alpha-1 blockers. They relax the prostate and bladder muscles and thus promote bladder emptying.
Depending on your doctor's suspicions about the cause of the inflammation, further steps 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, heat 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. Used for bacterial prostatitis. Before using folk remedies, consult your doctor.
fire weed
Fireweed has proven itself as an excellent remedy for prostate diseases.
Fireweed is a perennial herb. It has small flowers, usually white, but it also comes in various red colors.
Fireweed seeds are small, there are hairs on their surface, with the help of which they spread.
There are about 200 species of fireweed, this plant is often considered a weed and can be very toxic, but beneficial effects are only shown in fireweed. Flowers and roots are used. The content of biologically active substances (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on prostate activity.
Uses of fire weed:
- Pour 1 teaspoon of the herb into 1/4 liter of water, let it boil and let it brew for a while (15 minutes). You should drink it in sips throughout the day (up to 2 cups) cold.
This medicinal plant is used for various urological diseases, in particular:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- for kidney disease;
- for bladder disease;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
Fireweed is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, as a rule, it is combined with other herbs, depending on the nature of the problem, often with cranberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are probably the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is advised to drink 3 cups of green tea every day.
This drink encourages frequent urination, which helps 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 completely relaxes all the pelvic muscles, as a result of which no residual urine remains in the bladder, where some pathogenic bacteria will quickly multiply.
Nettles
2 handfuls of freshly picked nettle leaves - about 15 cm from the top of the plant - should be poured with 300 ml of drinking water and left to infuse overnight (about 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be slightly heated and drunk.
Cranberry
Cranberry is one of the famous fighters against prostatitis. Home treatments with cranberries involve consuming them in dried, fresh or canned form. In the second case, however, you should be careful with added sugar.
Cranberry juice is also available in stores. You should also be careful here and read the label carefully to make sure the juice does not contain added juice from other fruits or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has a healing effect.
Add dried cranberries to porridge or oatmeal.
For whom cranberries are not suitable:
Cranberry is contraindicated for people taking blood thinners. Cranberry can reduce the antiplatelet effect of the drug, which will cause 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 a strong anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant properties, interrupts the cycle of reproduction of cancer cells (which is especially important in the treatment of prostate cancer), and promotes apoptosis. Along with this, ginger is non-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 method to treat prostatitis is to use fresh pumpkin seeds instead of dried.
Preparation: Pumpkin seeds should be crushed. The resulting mass is mixed with honey in equal proportions and slightly heated. Then you need to leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours, after which you need to form a ball the size of a walnut.
Balls are taken before meals, 1-2 times a day, every day.
For preventive purposes, you can eat 4-5 pumpkins 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
Chestnuts are also effective and have no side effects, which is very important for older people.
Chestnuts should be peeled, crush the kernels into small pieces, pour boiling water over them and let them brew for an hour.
Decoction should be taken 3 times a day before meals, 30 drops.
Normal sex
Regular sex, just like masturbation, cleans the prostate, promotes blood circulation, and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually disappear within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms will decrease significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts several months and usually occurs repeatedly, during which the patient experiences little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Is it possible to prevent prostatitis?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent germs from spreading to the prostate and therefore inflammation of the prostate. Using condoms can also help prevent inflammation of the prostate caused by certain sexually transmitted diseases.