There are different stages of prostatitis.They differ from each other in clinical symptoms and course features.The most effective treatment is the initial stage of development of prostate inflammation.At this stage, the disease does not have time to greatly affect the functioning of the genitourinary system.The later a man with prostatitis seeks medical help, the lower his chances of full recovery.
What is prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that appears in the prostate.More than half of the elderly male population is personally aware of this disease.Doctors identify several forms of the disease, each of which occurs in its own way.When making the diagnosis, the urologist specifies the type of prostatitis found in the patient.Inflammation can be bacterial or non-bacterial.Both pathologies negatively affect the functioning of the gland and neighboring organs.
The pathological process has 2 course patterns:
- Spicy;
- Chronic.
The initial symptoms of acute prostatitis appear from the first days of the disease.Its severity increases if a man does not try to deal with the inflammation.The chronic course is characterized by the absence of obvious symptoms of malaise.Therefore, this form of prostatitis is usually detected during a routine examination by a urologist.
Acute prostatitis, even at the initial stage, has clear symptoms, while chronic prostatitis does not manifest itself for a long time
Stages of chronic disease
Chronic prostatitis is divided into several stages, which follow each other if the man does not try to combat the disease.It can remain latent for several years.At the same time, the pathology periodically worsens.Remission and relapse of the disease gradually replace each other.
It only depends on the patient's actions how long he will treat the disease, what stage it can reach and whether he will be able to fully recover.
Stage 1
The initial prostate stage is considered the safest for health.That is why doctors recommend starting treatment at this stage.But the difficulty is that at the beginning the disease does not cause much discomfort.A man does not always know that he is sick.If, for various reasons, the patient cannot overcome the pathological process in the prostate gland, it will move to a more serious stage.And this will happen until the infectious agent is stopped by therapy.
1st degree prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms, which will be mild:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees.After some time it can increase to 40 degrees;
- Severe pain is felt in the region of the hip joints;
- Discomfort occurs during bowel movements;
- The penis becomes more flaccid;
- During urination, you may notice discolored mucus;
- Pain appears during urination;
- The urethra becomes narrower, so you have to make an effort to empty the bladder;
- At night, the frequent urge to go to the bathroom starts to bother you;
- Sexual intercourse becomes less prolonged.
All these signs are a good reason to consult a specialist.They will bother a man for up to 3 years.It is during this period that the course of the first stage of the disease is usually observed.
Symptoms of prostate inflammation will come and go, as at this stage the disease manifests itself in waves.It will seem to the man that the disease has subsided, but after a while it manifests itself again.
Often, patients do not complete the initial stage of prostate inflammation.Because of this, the disease becomes chronic.It is very difficult to combat this form of pathology.The treatment will be time-consuming and will require investments of large sums.However, there is no guarantee that after completing the therapeutic course the disease will regress.
A urologist can identify the early stage of prostatitis in a patient if he undergoes a series of diagnostic procedures.The disease is detected through the following studies:
- Palpation of the rectum;
- Collection of secretions and sperm;
- General analysis of urine and blood;
- Sperm analysis;
- Prostate ultrasound.
Analysis of the research results will allow the specialist to determine the disease and its cause.If prostatitis is infectious, a man can take antibiotics and other medications that help restore the affected prostate tissue and normalize its performance.The non-infectious form of inflammation also requires drug therapy.This treatment will be based on immunomodulatory medications, dietary supplements and rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory effects.
If the initial stage of the disease occurs in a non-aggravated form, the patient will be prescribed additional physiotherapeutic treatment along with diet.
At an early stage, prostate inflammation responds well to treatment.
Stage 2
Prostatitis of the 2nd degree is accompanied by a temporary weakening of symptoms.Many men perceive this condition as recovery.They postpone medical appointments or fail to pay due attention to therapy.But a decrease in the inflammatory process with this diagnosis is a bad sign.During the first stage of the disease, the size of the prostate gland increased due to the active division of its cells.As a result, scars form on the walls.Vascular ruptures lead to interruption of the blood supply to the prostate.
The second stage of prostatitis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Disturbance of biological rhythms;
- Nervousness;
- Pain when urinating;
- Heart failure;
- Exacerbation of radiculitis;
- Disappearance of orgasm;
- Lack of sexual desire.
At this stage of prostatitis in men, it is difficult to correctly determine the specific localization of the pain syndrome.Initially, pain is felt at the site of the prostate.It then spreads to all areas of the pelvis.
Patients with stage 2 prostatitis are recommended to take immunostimulating medications and participate in physiotherapeutic procedures.To prevent the situation from becoming more complicated, they need to avoid hypothermia, give up bad habits and normalize their diet.
It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Step 3
The third stage of development of inflammation in the prostate brings more problems.In this case, the man is diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.At this stage, a major change occurs in the prostate tissue.They begin to die quickly.The scars formed in the previous stages severely compress the bladder.This causes the development of urinary retention, an extremely dangerous complication.
Prostatitis at the 3rd stage of development leads to the appearance of pathological changes in the kidneys and bladder.The whole danger is that they are irreversible.At this stage, men often complain of sciatica.
The last stage of the disease has the following symptoms:
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Intense pain when urinating;
- Weak urinary pressure;
- Cut in the kidney region;
- Lack of sensation of complete emptying of the bladder after going to the bathroom.
The last stage of chronic prostatitis is considered the most dangerous.At this stage, dead cells are replaced by connective tissue.This change leads to a decrease in the size of the prostate and a narrowing of the urinary tract.Due to malfunctions in the system, humans develop cystic formations.He also develops impotence.
As in the last stages of the disease the symptoms are very pronounced, the patient's life becomes very complicated.The constant pain gives him no rest, day or night.Often, for the first time, men turn to a urologist precisely because of the obvious symptoms of prostatitis.But, since by this time irreversible processes have already occurred in the gland, doctors do not guarantee the elimination of the pathology even if the patient fulfills all its requirements.It is difficult for them to predict how inflammation will behave at a certain stage of development.
If the case is severe and antibiotics do not provide significant relief, the patient is referred for surgery to remove partial or total prostate.
In stage 3, the pain becomes intense and the changes in the organs become irreversible.
Stages of acute illness
It is with acute inflammation in the glandular organ that prostatitis begins.It's gradually getting worse.The prostate is affected by an infection that successfully develops with a weakened immune system.Chronic prostatitis is observed in those who could not cope with the acute form of the pathology.In this case, the man will not feel any special symptoms of the disease until it is in the acute stage.
Inflammation of the prostate gland, caused by an infectious pathogen, manifests itself from the first days of the disease.Therefore, this form of pathology is diagnosed earlier than the chronic one.Acute prostatitis is characterized by slightly different stages of development.Doctors distinguish 4 degrees of the disease, which follow each other.
Catarrhal stage
At this stage, the inflammatory process in the prostate begins.It spreads into the ductal tissues of the glandular lobes.Prostate swelling occurs, which continues to progress.At this stage, the man does not present any purulent secretion that could indicate infection in the gland.He will be bothered by other symptoms:
- Frequent urge to go to the bathroom;
- Painful urge to urinate;
- General weakness of the body;
- Variable psycho-emotional state;
- Apathetic mood;
- Irritability.
Another distinctive feature of acute prostatitis at stage 1 of development is an enlarged prostate.Although this symptom is also characteristic of the chronic course of the pathology.The doctor will be able to notice this feature during palpation of the problem area.Special tests can confirm the specialist's concerns.He should definitely refer the patient for prostate secretion donation to study its composition.In prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes will be detected in the fluid.The doctor will also detect pus and mucus impurities in the sample.
Treatment of the catarrhal phase of acute prostatitis consists of taking a group of medications that suppress inflammation and reduce the severity of the main symptoms of the disease.
Massage with this course of pathology is strictly prohibited, like many other similar physiotherapeutic procedures.
On average, treatment of the initial stage of acute prostate inflammation takes about 2 weeks.During this time, the patient completely gets rid of the disease.The positive result of the therapy is due to the fact that it was started before the pathology had time to lead to the development of irreversible processes in the organs of the genitourinary system.
Follicular stage
With the development of this stage of prostatitis, the swelling spreads to the follicles and excretory ducts of the prostate.Its structures begin to compress neighboring tissues, causing severe suppuration.The symptoms of the disease intensify and become more pronounced and noticeable.In this condition, men complain of the following signs of illness:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees and does not fall;
- Apathetic mood;
- The appearance of pain in the groin area;
- Spread of pain to the genitals, anal region and hip joint;
- Painful urination;
- Pain in the region of the head of the penis;
- Defecation becomes more difficult;
- Producing a minimal amount of urine.
By palpating the problem area, you can detect an asymmetrical increase in prostate tissue.When examining the results of a urinalysis, your doctor will detect the presence of excessive pus and white blood cells in the sample.
It is very important to begin urgent treatment of the follicular phase of acute prostatitis, otherwise a malignant process may develop in the structures of the glandular organ.
If therapy is ignored, there is a risk of developing cancer
Parenchymal stage
Prostate tissue is subject to constant damage.Because of this, a large number of small pustules form on them.The urinary tract is further compressed.As a result, acute urinary retention occurs.Other symptoms of the parenchymal stage are the following conditions:
- Painful bowel movements;
- Increase in body temperature to 39 degrees or more;
- Constant feeling of extreme thirst;
- Loss of appetite;
- Severe weakness;
- Chronic fatigue;
- Difficulty urinating;
- Severe pain in the pelvis, anus and lower back;
- Flatulence and constipation.
Abnormal mucus impurities begin to appear in the stool as inflammation affects the intestines.The gland becomes quite large and its contours become blurred.
Abscess stage
This phase of acute prostatitis is accompanied by a series of painful signs that prevent a man from leading a full life.They are more pronounced than at the initial stage of development of the inflammatory process.At this stage, small pustules merge into a complete formation.Purulent masses quickly accumulate inside it.When it gets too big, it explodes.As a result, the accumulated pus is released from the urethra.During the abscess formation phase, the patient presents the following symptoms:
- Severe malaise;
- Increase in body temperature by up to 40 degrees;
- Passivity to any actions;
- Severe pain in the anus and genitals;
- Difficulty defecating and urinating.
If a man in this condition does not receive adequate treatment, he could die.It is very important to eliminate the abscess so that the patient's well-being improves.Only after this will the main signs of the disease begin to subside.
Complications
The sooner prostatitis treatment is started, the less damage the inflammatory process will cause to the body.This is why it is best to combat the disease at an early stage.But not all men adhere to this recommendation, as many hope that the disease will disappear on its own.Because of this, the disease progresses and leads to the development of unpleasant complications.Neglecting the help of a specialist, a person faces the following consequences of untreated prostatitis:
- The appearance of various inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system;
- Decreased sexual desire;
- Psychological disorders;
- Infertility;
- Impotence.
It is not uncommon for men who have had prostatitis to not have a normal erection.That is why the patient's sexual activity is significantly reduced.In some cases, the absence of ejaculation is considered a complication.A man's penis may suddenly fall off.If such deviations are detected, you need to consult a specialist to find out the nature of the violation and find ways to get rid of it.
We must not forget that the inflammatory process can actively spread to neighboring tissues and organs.That is why, against the background of prostatitis, men additionally develop cystitis and urethritis.These diseases lead to interruption of urine flow.The occurrence of chronic incontinence cannot be ruled out.
Impotence is perceived by men as one of the most serious complications of acute or chronic prostatitis.With such a deviation, the ability to arouse disappears.This is due to inflammation, which interferes with the tissue nutrition process.Edema prevents the corpora cavernosa from being completely filled with blood.Medicine has learned to treat this complication with long-term drug therapy.However, not all patients who have completed this course are satisfied with the result.
It is prostatitis that is the main cause of the development of 1st degree infertility.In this case, we consider a variant of the disease in which the composition of the seminal fluid changes.The secretion changes its acidity and viscosity level.All these abnormalities are detected during the examination of the semen sample submitted for analysis.
With the problem of infertility, men should consult an andrologist.He will help you choose the ideal treatment.
If prostatitis is severe, it will lead to grade 2 infertility. This condition is not amenable to therapeutic treatment.
A man's psycho-emotional mood suffers greatly due to inflammation of the prostate gland.Frequent failures in the intimate sphere worry him.In this context, depression appears, which further worsens the patient's general condition.
More than 30% of patients diagnosed with prostatitis experience psycho-emotional experiences.A psychologist helps them restore male libido, which has been reduced due to stress.
Impotence and infertility are common complications of the disease
Remission of chronic prostatitis
If treatment for prostatitis has been started, the patient may achieve remission.This is the name for a condition in which there is a significant weakening of the symptoms of the disease or their complete disappearance.Prostatitis in remission is recorded in most patients who have completed full treatment.This period lasts different times for each person.If a man does not follow the doctor's recommendations, after a while an exacerbation of prostate inflammation will occur.And then the patient will have to be treated again.
Species
Prostatitis remission can be complete or incomplete.In the first case, after complete therapy, the man stops being bothered by absolutely all the symptoms of the pathology.He forgets about them for a long time.Incomplete remission usually lasts no more than 3 months.During this period, the patient may complain of minor symptoms that characterize prostatitis.For example, many continue to experience pain when urinating and discomfort in the pelvic area.
Duration
Even experienced doctors sometimes find it very difficult to predict how long remission will last for a particular person who has been treated for prostatitis.This indicator is individual.The duration of this period directly depends on several factors:
- The causative agent of the disease;
- General condition of the body;
- Quality of treatment;
- Severity of the disease;
- Stage of the disease.
Also taken into account is the care with which the patient follows the recommendations of the attending physician, related to the prevention of prostatitis recurrences.
If a man meets all the requirements of a specialist and carefully takes care of his own health, his remission can last for several decades.Sometimes the disease disappears completely.
Forecast
If a patient who has had to undergo treatment for chronic prostatitis begins to lead a correct lifestyle, undergoes control examinations and regularly visits the doctor, as well as taking medications to prevent relapses of prostate inflammation, he will have a favorable prognosis for recovery.In this case, the disease may never bother the person again.
If a man develops prostatitis, he should begin therapy immediately.To do this, you must contact a specialist.A complete examination of the genitourinary system will help the urologist select an appropriate treatment that will stop the disease and eliminate any complications that may arise.