According to statistics, more than 75% of men over the age of 40-45 suffer from prostate disease. Strong circulation of lymph and blood in the vessels of the small pelvis often causes swelling of the organs and blockage. In addition, the prostate is well innervated, so symptoms of the disease in men include severe pain.
What is the prostate
The prostate or prostate gland is a male reproductive organ, part of the reproductive system. It is located in the small pelvis, below the urinary bladder, partially covering the urethra and ejaculatory ducts. The prostate consists of two lobes and a membrane that connects them. In addition, the upper, base, front and back parts are distinguished in the organ. The shape of the prostate resembles a chestnut, it is elastic, it consists of glandular and muscle cells. The prostate performs three main functions:
- Engine. Prostate muscle cells form a sphincter in the urethra that holds urine.
- Secretary. The gland produces a special secret that ensures sperm mobility, liquefies sperm.
- Barrier. Prevents the spread of infection from the urethra.
Prostate disease in men
Pathologies are, as a rule, associated with organ damage by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms, congestion or neoplasms (both malignant and benign). >Prostate diseases include:
- inflammation (prostatitis);
- benign gland hyperplasia (adenoma);
- malignant neoplasm (cancer);
- cystic neoplasms;
- prostate abscess.
Many factors that create a favorable environment and conditions for the penetration and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms (fungi, viruses, bacteria) can cause the development of pathology and signs of prostate inflammation in men. In addition, they can cause the development of benign or malignant tumors. Adverse factors include:
- malnutrition;
- hypovitaminosis;
- venereal diseases;
- hypothermia of the body;
- hypodynamia;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics;
- stagnation of blood in the pelvis;
- bad habits;
- endocrine pathologies;
- pathology of the reproductive system;
- history of oncological diseases;
- prolonged fatigue.
Symptoms of prostate disease in men
Signs of prostate disorders depend on the cause of the disease, its localization and the nature of pathological processes. As a rule, the patient complains of weakness, reduced efficiency, general fatigue and irritability. In addition, symptoms of prostatitis and prostate adenoma in men, stones or abscesses can manifest as follows:
- violation of urination;
- erectile dysfunction;
- infertility;
- pain, burning in the urethra;
- rise in temperature;
- chills;
- painful relationship;
- lack of ejaculation;
- pain in the perineum with sudden movements;
- offensive urethral discharge.
Prostatitis
Inflammatory lesion of the prostate, prostatitis, is one of the most common diseases of the male genital area. The main cause of the pathology is considered to be a violation of blood circulation in the pelvis, which leads to a strong increase in the proportions of the organ and its edema. Symptoms of prostate inflammation depend on the type of disease. There are several types of pathology:
- Acute inflammation. It is caused by pathogenic microbes (eg E. coli or enterobacteria). Acute prostatitis is manifested by severe pain and pain in the urethra, difficulty urinating: urine is excreted with difficulty, sometimes drop by drop. Some patients report an increase in temperature.
- Chronic bacterial inflammation. As a rule, it is caused by sexual infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, etc. ). Symptoms of chronic inflammation of the prostate can be mild or absent. Among the characteristic signs are sexual dysfunction (erection disorder, premature ejaculation), painful urination (mainly at night) and discharge of mucus from the urethra.
- Chronic non-bacterial inflammation. The disease develops as a result of inflammatory processes in other organs (pyelonephritis, cystitis), blood stagnation, heart failure, hypothermia. Such prostatitis often has one symptom - difficulty urinating. Often the result of the pathology is kidney failure, discomfort in the lower back.
BPH
Prostate disease characterized by benign tissue growth and the formation of nodes that gradually compress the urethra and seminal ducts, the bladder. Hyperplasia can lead to a violation of the concentration of hormones in the blood. Signs of prostate adenoma in men vary depending on the stage of the disease:
- Compensated. As a rule, men do not notice specific symptoms at this stage. Sometimes there is an increased urge to urinate at night.
- Undercompensated. The main symptoms are a feeling of heaviness in the bladder, its incomplete emptying. Liquid passes through with difficulty during urination, patients complain of difficult ejaculation.
- Decompensated. It is characterized by a significant decrease in the volume of the bladder muscles and their tone. In addition, the adenoma develops chronic fatigue, pain and spasms when trying to urinate. In the absence of treatment, the tumor grows, the intensity of pain increases significantly, defecation may be disturbed due to compression of the rectum.
Prostate adenoma is considered a precancerous disease, therefore, when this tissue growth is detected, a biopsy is necessary to detect atypical cells and ultrasound (ultrasound) to study the structure of the organ in detail. Hyperplasia of the gland, as a rule, progresses slowly, which allows timely diagnosis and treatment.
A cyst
Under the influence of the inflammatory processes of the gland, a pathological cavity with fluid or prostate cyst develops, in which the outlet channels of the organ are compressed, and the outflow of secretions is disturbed. Pathology can be caused by constant stress, nervous tension, chronic diseases and tumors of adjacent organs, sclerosis of the prostate tissue. Signs of cystic formation are:
- burning in urethra;
- increase in the size of the gland;
- decreased libido;
- increase in body temperature;
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- reproductive dysfunction.
stones
Stone formation in the prostate occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, injuries in the groin area, inflammatory diseases of the organs. Gradually increasing in size, the stones violate the integrity of the ducts of the gland, urine begins to enter the prostate tissue. As a rule, stones consist of phosphates, salts of uric and oxalic acids, proteins and canal epithelium. The main signs of pathology include:
- weak erection;
- pain when urinating;
- frequent exacerbations of inflammation;
- pain during ejaculation;
- a seal in the gland and pain when probed.
Cancer
A malignant neoplasm that develops from the secretory epithelium of the prostate is called carcinoma or cancer. Tumor formation is preceded by long-term inflammatory processes. The risk group consists of men over 40 who abuse alcohol and smoke. Symptoms of oncological damage to the prostate are non-specific and are manifested by a violation of the functioning of the organ. In the early stages, the disease is usually not manifested. As the tumor develops, the following symptoms develop:
- hematuria;
- painful urination;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- swelling of the legs;
- stool injury;
- impotence.
An abscess
Infectious-inflammatory pathology, which is accompanied by purulent union of tissues, is called an abscess. Such a process develops due to the transfer of pathogenic bacteria from the primary focus of infection to the prostate through the bloodstream. An abscess can be asymptomatic for a long time. The main signs of the presence of a purulent focus in the prostate tissues are: >
- fever and fever;
- pain during sexual intercourse, urination;
- excretion of fetid pus in the urine (when an abscess bursts).
Purulent formation in the prostate is diagnosed with the help of instrumental and laboratory studies. Blood tests show an increase in the number of leukocytes, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Urine analysis reveals leukocyturia and pathogenic microflora. Palpation examination through the rectum shows the presence of a rounded formation.
Main methods of prostate treatment
Pathology treatment methods depend on the specific disease, its stage and severity. Therapy for prostate diseases is selected individually, depending on the age of the patient, the results of laboratory tests, instrumental studies, and the presence of accompanying pathologies. Get to know the basic principles of prostate disease treatment:
Disease |
Treatment methods |
|---|---|
Prostatitis |
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Adenoma |
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A cyst |
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stones |
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Cancer |
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An abscess |
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Prevention
To prevent the development of prostate disease, you should adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle. It reduces the risk of prostate pathologies by following the recommendations:
- Stick to a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take multivitamin complexes, immunomodulatory drugs.
- Refrain from consuming alcohol, smoking tobacco, and drugs.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Contact your doctor as soon as symptoms appear.