Inflammation of the tissues of the prostate gland is quite common, the causes of prostatitis in men are infections and congestion. According to statistics, after the age of 30, 30% of men already suffer from this disease, and with age, the numbers increase and the disease becomes younger. As you know, the best treatment is prevention, and if we know the causes of a particular pathology, then it will be easier to protect ourselves from it.
Where does prostatitis come from?
The clinical picture of the disease may include a different set of symptoms. The most common and significant are urinary disorders and sexual dysfunctions. In each case, the set of symptoms and the degree of manifestation of it depend on the individual characteristics of a man, in particular, on his lifestyle, general health and the work of the immune system.
According to the reasons, it is customary to distinguish two forms of the disease:
- infectious
- stagnant.
The reasons for the development of infectious prostatitis
In the infectious form of the disease, the causes of prostatitis are pathogenic microorganisms. In this case, the disease develops when a focus of infection forms in the prostate. It can occur both acutely and chronically, but infectious prostatitis is more often acute. At the same time, the general well-being of the man worsens, pains appear in the lower back, groin, the urination process is disturbed, and body temperature rises.
Acute prostatitis
The immediate causes of prostatitis in men are foci of infection, which can be located in completely different organs. Pathogens enter the prostate by ascending from the rectum or urethra, or descending through the blood and lymph.
The most common causative agents of acute prostatitis:
- Colibacillus,
- Staphylococcus aureus,
- Streptococcus,
- Gonococci.
What causes prostatitis, where are the foci of infection leading to acute inflammation of the prostate gland? First of all, urological infections, sexually transmitted diseases, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, infections in the intestines can cause prostatitis. Even banal cavities can provoke the development of prostatitis, because there is an infection in decayed teeth.
The ascending path of the spread of pathogenic microorganisms is their entry into the tissues of the prostate gland from the rectum and urethra. When does this happen? Most often, this phenomenon is due to urological infections - cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis. One possible cause of prostatitis is sexually transmitted diseases, of which gonorrhea is the most common. If a man falls ill with this disease, a focus of infection forms in him, which is very close to the prostate gland. This means that the pathogenic microflora can easily spread to the prostate tissue. The entry of gonococci or Trichomonas into the prostate gland can occur with unprotected sex if the partner is ill.
The downward route of spread of the infection means its penetration through the blood or lymph from the organs located above the prostate. In this case, the causes of prostatitis lie in the negative effects on the body of infections of the throat, upper respiratory tract or oral cavity. Among the diseases that cause prostatitis, there may be bronchitis, flu, tonsillitis, tuberculosis. The inflammation of the prostate resulting from these problems is usually a complication, with the first symptoms appearing a couple of weeks after the underlying infection.
The state of immunity plays an important role in the appearance or not of inflammation. Not all men with foci of infection develop prostatitis. If the body is in an active and vigorous state, immunity copes with infection and the pathological process stops. The deterioration of the state of the defenses leads to the development of complications. They manifest themselves in various diseases, it all depends on the individual characteristics and "weak" points of the body. The prostate gland is one of the most sensitive organs in the male body, so any negative impact can affect its condition.
Why does immunity drop? The reason for this is stress, malnutrition, sedentary lifestyle, hypothermia. Infections themselves, especially sexually transmitted infections, become a factor in reducing immunity and contribute to the development of complications.
Chronic prostatitis
In the acute form of the disease, all the symptoms are quite bright, it is impossible not to pay attention to them, therefore, men with acute prostatitis, as a rule, immediately consult a doctor. The chronic form of the disease has a slow character, the symptoms are not very pronounced, the state of health is usually satisfactory, and the temperature is normal. It is due to the low symptom nature of chronic prostatitis that it has become so widespread. Men do not tend to actively treat a problem that does not have vivid characteristic symptoms, so they usually do not rush to see a doctor with mild manifestations of prostatitis.
What Causes Chronic Prostatitis? The reasons may be the same as in acute prostatitis, but due to the work of the immune system or the weakness of the pathogenic microflora, the disease does not become acute, but develops slowly. However, the most common cause of chronic prostatitis is the acute form of this disease, which has not received sufficiently effective treatment.
Reasons for the transition from acute to chronic prostatitis:
- Late start of treatment,
- Incorrect initiation of treatment
- Lack of treatment
- Significant decrease in immunity.
In chronic prostatitis, the inflammatory process of the prostate gland tissues is not expressed, so symptoms may not be felt until an exacerbation occurs.
The peculiarity of chronic prostatitis is also that the primary inflammation of the prostate causes a deterioration in the innervation of the organ, which negatively affects its functioning and can provoke autoimmune processes. During these processes, the immune system produces antibodies directed against the tissues of the prostate gland. Even after the infection is cleared, such prostatitis will progress.
Causes of non-infectious prostatitis.
Non-infectious prostatitis, that is, congestive, occurs due to congestion in the pelvic area. Most of the time, it is chronic, it develops gradually, over time, increasing symptoms. It is this form of inflammation of the prostate that occurs most often.
What causes prostatitis in men in most cases? The main reason is a violation of blood circulation, its stagnation. As a result, the organ does not receive enough nutrition, oxygen, there is no full secretion flow, that is, favorable conditions for the development of inflammation appear. This condition is usually found in men who are not very active, less often it occurs in the context of trauma.
Reasons for stagnant prostatitis
- Lack of physical activity
- Work associated with sitting at a table for a long time, driving a car,
- Irregular sex life
- Constipation
- Overweight,
- Unbalanced diet
- Often suppressed urge to urinate
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- Lumbar injuries
- Features of the structure of the organs of the genitourinary system.
All of these reasons have an adverse effect on blood circulation, both local and general. For example, smoking and regular alcohol consumption greatly weaken vascular tone, disrupting blood flow throughout the body. The prostate gland also suffers from this. Stagnation in the pelvic organs affects both men who have a sedentary job, as well as those who spend a lot of time driving a car or are used to passive rest on the sofa. Sitting for a long time, in general, is not good for men's health. One way or another, the vessels that supply blood to the pelvic region become pinched and worse, supply blood to the prostate.
An unbalanced diet leads to a deterioration in the general condition of the body, excess weight, poor intestinal function. All this also negatively affects the state of blood circulation, especially in the organs of the genitourinary system.
Sex life is very important for men's health, it must be regular. Sexual relations three times a week can be considered average figures, but each one has its own characteristics, which depend on the constitution of a man, his desires and needs. Insufficient sexual activity leads to stagnation, as the tension that inevitably builds up is not discharged. Not only stagnation of blood occurs, but also secretion from the prostate, in which harmful substances accumulate.
Excessive sexual activity is also harmful as it requires a lot of strength from a man, leads to physical and nervous exhaustion, and hormonal imbalance. All this becomes a factor that causes inflammation of the gland tissues.
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the most common causes of prostatitis in men. Today we move a lot in transport, we go up to the upper floors by elevator, a lot has been done to make our lives easier. However, the human body, especially the male, is designed for high physical activity. To achieve this, men should do some kind of sport. You can always choose what you like, what gives you pleasure. Good results are obtained with daily gymnastics, which consists of simple exercises, a walk.
The anatomical characteristics of the vessels or other structures located in the pelvic region can cause congestion in the prostate. These characteristics may be due to congenital anomalies or defects, as well as acquired by trauma or other diseases. Violation of the structure of tissues, the state of blood vessels, the formation of cysts or tumors often leads to significant changes in the functioning of both the organ itself and the arteries and veins that provide its blood supply.
When to worry
If a man felt that he had trouble urinating, he began to go to the bathroom more often, he is concerned about pain in the lower back, groin, then he needs to see a urologist. Even if the manifestations are minor, they should not be ignored. The appearance of such symptoms suggests that unfavorable changes have occurred in the body.
In case of urination problems, pain in the groin and lower back, you should consult a urologist!
Diagnosis and treatment
The causes and treatment of prostatitis are closely related, therefore, in order to successfully overcome the disease, a full diagnosis is necessary.
Diagnostic procedures
- Collecting anamnesis,
- Digital rectal exam,
- Ultrasound,
- Bacteriological analysis of prostate secretion.
- Blood and urine tests.
- Analysis to determine the level of PSA.
These procedures give an idea of the state of the prostate gland, allow to identify inflammation and its causes. PSA levels are required to rule out adenoma and prostate cancer. It is necessary to repeat this analysis to monitor the success of the treatment.
It is necessary to treat prostatitis comprehensively, including the following methods:
- drug therapy,
- massage,
- physiotherapy,
- physiotherapy.
Depending on the causes of the disease, drugs are prescribed that eliminate the infectious component, improve blood circulation, urine output and gland secretions, and relieve spasms. The earlier treatment is started and the more responsibly a man treats him, the better his results will be.
However, the most optimal thing is to prevent the disease, then you will not have to treat it. Prevention for a man is avoiding causes and provoking factors, leading a healthy lifestyle, and being sexually active.