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 30 years, 30% of men already suffer from this disease, and with age their number increases 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 prevent 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 dysfunction. In any case, the set of symptoms and the degree of their manifestation depend on the individual characteristics of the person, in particular on his lifestyle, general health and the work of the immune system.
According to the causes, it is common to distinguish two forms of the disease:
- infectious
- stagnated.
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 an outbreak of infection forms in the prostate. It can occur in both acute and chronic forms, but infectious prostatitis is more often acute. At the same time, the general well-being of the man deteriorates, there is pain in the lower back, groin, the process of urination is disturbed and the body temperature rises.
Acute prostatitis
The immediate causes of prostatitis in men are foci of infection that can be located in completely different organs. Pathogens enter the prostate either ascending from the rectum or urethra, or descend through the blood and lymph.
The most common causes of acute prostatitis:
- colibacillus,
- Staphylococcus aureus,
- streptococcus,
- gonococci.
What causes prostatitis, where are the foci of infection that lead to acute inflammation of the prostate gland? First of all, urological infections, sexually transmitted diseases, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, intestinal infections can cause prostatitis. Even banal caries can provoke the development of prostatitis because there is an infection in the carious teeth.
The ascending route of 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. A possible cause of prostatitis are sexually transmitted diseases, the most common of which is gonorrhea. If a man becomes ill with this disease, then an outbreak of infection forms in him, which is located next to the prostate gland. This means that the pathogenic microflora can easily spread to the prostate tissue. Gonococci or Trichomonas can enter the prostate gland during unprotected sex if the partner is ill.
The descending route of infection means its penetration through the blood or lymph from the organs 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 may be bronchitis, influenza, tonsillitis, tuberculosis. Inflammation of the prostate as a result of these problems is usually a complication and the first symptoms appear a few weeks after the main infection.
An important role in whether inflammation occurs or not plays a state of immunity. Not all men with foci of infection develop prostatitis. If the body is in an active energetic state, the immune system copes with the infection and the pathological process stops. Deterioration of the state of the protective forces leads to the development of complications. They manifest themselves in various diseases, it all depends on individual characteristics and "weak" points in 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 fall? The reason for this is stress, malnutrition, sedentary lifestyle, hypothermia. Infections themselves, especially sexually transmitted ones, 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, consult a doctor immediately. The chronic form of the disease is slow, the symptoms are not severe, the state of health usually remains satisfactory, and the temperature is normal. Due to the asymptomatic nature of chronic prostatitis, it has become so widespread. Men are reluctant to actively treat a problem that does not have bright, characteristic symptoms, so they are usually in no hurry to see a doctor with mild prostatitis.
What causes chronic prostatitis? The causes 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,
- Improper start of treatment
- Lack of treatment
- Significant reduction of immunity.
In chronic prostatitis, the inflammatory process in the tissues of the prostate gland is not pronounced, so the symptoms may not be felt until exacerbation occurs.
The peculiarity of chronic prostatitis is also that the primary inflammation of the prostate causes a deterioration of the innervation of the organ, which adversely affects its work and can cause 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, ie congestive, prostatitis occurs due to congestion in the pelvic area. It is most often chronic, developing gradually, over time, increasing symptoms. It is this form of inflammation of the prostate that is most common.
What causes prostatitis in men in most cases? The main reason is a violation of blood circulation, its stagnation. As a result, the body does not receive enough nutrition, oxygen, there is no full outflow of secretions, that is, favorable conditions for the development of inflammation. This condition usually occurs in men who are not very active, less often it occurs against the background of trauma.
Causes of stagnant prostatitis
- Lack of physical activity
- Work related to prolonged sitting at a table, driving a car,
- Irregular sex life
- constipation
- Overweight,
- Unbalanced diet
- Often restrained urge to urinate
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- Lumbar injuries
- Features of the structure of the organs of the genitourinary system.
All these causes have an adverse effect on blood circulation, both locally and in general. For example, smoking and regular consumption of alcohol greatly weaken vascular tone, which disrupts blood flow throughout the body. The prostate gland also suffers from this. Stagnation in the pelvic organs affects men who have a sedentary job, as well as those who spend a lot of time driving a car or are accustomed to passively resting on the couch. Prolonged sitting, in general, is not good for men's health. One way or another, the vessels that supply blood to the pelvic area become compressed and, worse, supply blood to the prostate.
An unbalanced diet leads to deterioration of the general condition of the body, overweight, poor bowel function. All this also adversely affects the state of blood circulation, especially in the genitourinary system.
Sex life is very important for men's health, it should be regular. Sexual intercourse three times a week can be considered average figures, but each has its own characteristics, which depend on the constitution of the man, his desires and needs. Insufficient sexual activity leads to stagnation, as the inevitably accumulating tension is not released. There is not only stagnation of blood, but also the secretion of the prostate, in which harmful substances accumulate.
Excessive sexual activity is also harmful, as it takes a lot of strength from the man, leading to physical and nervous exhaustion and hormonal imbalance. All this becomes a factor that provokes inflammation of the glandular tissues.
Sedentary lifestyle is one of the most common causes of prostatitis in men. Today we move a lot by 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 get it, men have to do some kind of sport. You can always choose what you like, what you enjoy. Good results are obtained from daily gymnastics, consisting of simple exercises, walking.
The anatomical features of the vessels or other structures located in the pelvic area can lead to congestion in the prostate. These features can be due to congenital anomalies or defects, as well as acquired from trauma or other diseases. Disruption of the structure of tissues, the condition of blood vessels, the formation of cysts or tumors very often leads to significant changes in the functioning of the organ itself, as well as the arteries and veins that provide its blood supply.
When to worry
If a person feels that he has problems urinating, began to go to the toilet more often, worried about pain in the lumbar region, groin, then you should visit a urologist. Even if the manifestations are insignificant, they should not be ignored. The appearance of such symptoms suggests that adverse changes have occurred in the body.
In case of problems with urination, 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, it is necessary to make a complete diagnosis.
Diagnostic procedures
- Collection of anamnesis,
- rectal digital examination,
- ultrasound,
- Bacteriological analysis of prostate secretion,
- Blood and urine tests,
- Analysis to determine the level of PSA.
These procedures give an idea of the condition of the prostate gland, make it possible to identify inflammation and its causes. PSA levels are needed to rule out adenoma and prostate cancer. Such a repeat analysis is needed to monitor the success of the treatment.
It is necessary to treat prostatitis in a comprehensive manner, 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 flow and secretions of the glands, relieve spasms. The earlier treatment is started and the more responsibly a man treats him, the better his results will be.
However, the best thing is to prevent the disease, then you will not have to treat it. Prevention for a man is to avoid the causes and provoking factors, to lead a healthy lifestyle and to be sexually active.