What is prostatitis? This is an inflammatory disease of the prostate. Only men have a prostate gland, so the disease is only relevant to them at first glance, but in fact it also affects the life of a regular sexual partner.
Causes of the disease
What causes prostatitis? There is a myth that prostatitis can be caused by bacteria or hypothermia. In reality, things are a little different. There are always bacteria in the prostate gland, and hypothermia is only a predisposing factor that can trigger the development of inflammation.
In the case of hypothermia, a violation of blood microcirculation occurs, which worsens the blood supply to the pelvic organs. As a result, the amount of blood around the prostate changes. Fewer blood cells fight bacteria and can no longer withstand the load. It turned out that hypothermia provokes the development of the inflammatory process and is an indirect cause of the development of prostatitis.
Chronic and acute disease
How is acute and chronic prostatitis manifested? The symptoms of the acute form of prostatitis are sharp pain, high fever, painful urination with weak pressure. In case of chronic prostatitis, this is more difficult. Its symptoms can easily be confused with a simple illness, so the patient thinks that nothing terrible is happening: he sat down somewhere, caught a cold, was tired or ate something.
The following manifestations of the symptoms of chronic prostatitis are known:
- aching pain in the perineum;
- excruciating pain that radiates into the scrotum;
- stabbing pain in the lower abdomen that radiates to the sacrum, coccyx, and penis;
- urination disorder during prostatitis is characterized by weak or normal pressure, but sometimes this symptom is not expressed;
- Some patients experience erectile problems, which are most often psychological in nature, since no direct link between prostatitis and potency disorders has been identified.
Preventive measures
How often should you have sex to avoid prostatitis? What is prostatitis prevention?
The prostate gland produces the so-called prostatic secretion – a viscous fluid that contains components that are also present in semen. The liquid part of the semen is the secretion of the prostate and secretions from the seminal vesicles, which are located behind the prostate. At a young age, a person always has a morning erection, which is accompanied by the production of prostate secretions. If you don't have sex, it accumulates day by day. This leads to stagnation, which then causes a slight increase in the size of the prostate and pain - a nagging pain in the perineum.
Nature intended that every erection should end in ejaculation. In one month, I woke up 30 times - 30 erections, which means 30 sexual acts! It is a generally accepted opinion in urology that an average of 22 ejaculations is necessary to prevent prostatitis, but these are again only recommendations. In practice, this is sometimes very difficult to achieve, and each person has different needs for sex.
What tests should be performed?
What tests should be done if you have or suspect prostatitis? First, it's a general blood test, as well as a general urine test.
During the consultation, the urologist performs a thorough examination, during which a digital rectal examination is performed. The doctor examines the prostate, palpates it, assesses pain, consistency and flexibility. In this case, the secretion of the prostate is collected for analysis.
Testing for prostatitis suggests the following:
- Evaluation of leukocyte count. The more there is, the more active the inflammatory process.
- Examination of prostate secretion for bacterial culture. It makes it possible to identify which bacteria cause inflammation, in what quantities they are present, and which drugs work against them, and which are completely useless.
- Taking a smear in case of sexually transmitted infections.
- Transrectal ultrasound examination. This is the most informative procedure that allows you to get information about the state, structure and volume of the prostate.
How long does it take to treat prostatitis?
It all depends on the type of prostatitis. In case of diseases caused by bacteria, antibiotics should be prescribed. Due to the characteristics of the porous structure of the prostate and the specific blood supply of this organ, treatment with antibiotics and other drugs lasts for 28 days.
The blood supply of the prostate is located on the periphery, so during the 20 days of taking the antibiotic, a cumulative effect prevails, and the drug only reaches the desired therapeutic concentration between the 20th and 28th day. Therefore, it is important to take the medicine for the full duration recommended by the doctor.
Other medicines
They are prescribed in addition to antibioticsthe following medicines:
- Probiotics that restore the intestinal microflora.
- Antifungals. When taking antibiotics, the activity of the immune system decreases and fungal diseases (most often candida albicans or thrush) begin to appear in men, even if they have only one sexual partner.
- Vitamins.
- Preparations that improve blood microcirculation.
- Antiplatelet agents that thin the blood. They are prescribed so that the blood supplies the tissues well and the prescribed medicine reaches them.
It is not a drug treatment
- Prostate massage helps to overcome congestion.
- First of all, the massage squeezes out the mucus and bacteria accumulated in the prostate purely mechanically.
- Second, blood supply and lymphatic drainage are improved.
- Physiotherapy and hardware treatment. Vibrolaser magnetotherapy gives good results. The laser improves the permeability of the cell membranes for the drugs, they penetrate the prostate, and the lymphatic drainage improves under the influence of the magnet, which is enhanced by the vibration therapy.
What happens if it is not treated?
If prostatitis is not treated, then:
- The risk of male infertility increases. The secretion of the prostate is an integral part of the sperm, so bacteria and all the waste products of bacteria degrade its quality. Sperm are less active and there is a battle between bacteria and sperm for nutrients (fructose, citric acid, zinc). As a result, the sperms become weakened and lose their ability to fertilize.
- Various adhesion processes can develop in the vas deferens. This leads to the fact that the sperm are simply not released and do not enter the egg.
- Regular nagging pain may occur. Sometimes some patients are lucky and nothing bothers them for a while and they think that the disease has receded on its own. But then the symptoms return and become more severe.
Prostatitis Do's and Don'ts
what can you eat
- Salty is also possible, but without abuse (add a little salt to the food).
- Alcohol - possible in minimal quantities (one glass of wine or 50 g of cognac, whiskey in the evening).
- Coffee - 1-2 cups per day is allowed, large amounts are prohibited, as coffee leads to vasoconstriction and deterioration of blood microcirculation.
Is sexual intercourse possible?
If the ejaculation itself does not cause painful, sharp sensations, then it is possible and even necessary to be sexually active. If sexual intercourse causes pain or discomfort, it is better to refrain from sexual activity during the treatment period.
Is it possible to visit a bath, sauna or hammam?
It all depends on the stage of prostatitis. If this is an acute process with fever, then there is no need for such places. If the treatment of prostatitis proceeds as usual and there are no alarming symptoms, it is not forbidden to visit the bath or swimming pool. But you need to minimize the time in the steam room, as well as in cold water.
Is physical activity necessary?
You can't do without physical activity at all, exercise is the best assistant in the treatment of prostatitis. The most important thing is not to expose the body to the increased stress caused by training. You can walk, run, squat, etc.
As for the bike, not everything is clear. Doctors do not recommend this sport for men (unless it is only in the form of short walks). When a man sits on a bicycle, the pelvic and perineal vessels are compressed and the blood supply is disturbed. There is no direct connection, but in terms of prevention, we try to rule out all possible factors, even if they are not directly affected.
Should I treat my sexual partner?
Treatment of the partner is only necessary if a sexually transmitted infection is detected. In fact, prostatitis is not spread through sexual contact, so the partner usually does not need treatment, although an examination by a gynecologist would not hurt.