There are different stages of prostatitis. They differ in clinical symptoms and course characteristics. The most effective is the treatment of the initial stage of the development of prostatitis. At this stage, the disease does not have time to greatly affect the functioning of the urogenital system. The later a man suffering from prostatitis turns to a doctor for help, the less chance he has of a complete recovery.
What is prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that appeared in the prostate gland. More than half of the older male population is personally familiar with this disease. Doctors distinguish several forms of the disease, each of which progresses in its own way. When making a diagnosis, urologists determine the type of prostatitis found in the patient. The inflammation can be bacterial or non-bacterial. Both pathologies negatively affect the function of the gland and neighboring organs.
The pathological process has 2 types of flow:
- Spicy;
- Chronic.
The initial symptoms of acute prostatitis appear from the first days of the disease. Their severity increases if a man does not try to cope 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 gives vivid symptoms even in the initial stages, while chronic prostatitis does not appear for a long time.
Stages of chronic diseases
Chronic prostatitis is divided into several stages, which follow each other if a man does not try to fight the disease. It can be latent for several years. In this case, the pathology periodically worsens. Remission and relapse of the disease gradually replace each other.
It depends only on the actions of the patient how long he will treat the disease, what stage he will reach and whether he will be able to fully recover.
1 section
The initial stage of the prostate is the safest in terms of health. Therefore, doctors recommend starting treatment at this stage. But the difficulty lies in the fact that the disease initially does not cause much discomfort. People don't always know they are sick. If the patient could not overcome the pathological process of the prostate for a number of reasons, then he enters a more difficult stage. And so it continues until the causative agent of the infection is stopped by the therapy.
Stage 1 prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms, which are mild:
- The body temperature rises to 38 degrees. After a while, it can rise to 40 degrees;
- Severe pain is felt in the area of the hip joints;
- An unpleasant sensation is experienced during a bowel movement;
- The member will become more sluggish;
- During the urination process, you may notice mucus that has no color;
- Pain appears during urination;
- The urethra narrows, so you have to force the bladder to empty;
- At night, frequent toilet requests start to bother you;
- The sexual relationship is shortened.
All of these signs are good reasons to see a professional. They bother you for 3 years. It is usually at this time that the course of the first stage of the disease is observed.
Symptoms of prostatitis come and go, as the disease manifests itself in waves at this stage. It seems to the man that the disease has receded, but after a while it reveals itself again.
Very often, patients do not complete the initial stage of inflammation of the prostate. Because of this, the disease becomes chronic. It is very difficult to cope with this form of pathology. The treatment takes a long time and requires a large investment. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the disease will recede after the end of the therapeutic course.
A urologist can detect the initial stage of prostatitis in a patient by undergoing a series of diagnostic procedures. The disease is detected using the following tests:
- Palpation of the rectum;
- Collection of secretions and semen;
- General analysis of urine and blood;
- Sperm analysis;
- Ultrasound of the prostate.
The analysis of the research results allows the specialist to determine the disease and its cause. If the prostatitis turns out to be infectious, then the man is offered to drink antibiotics and other drugs that help restore the affected prostate tissue and normalize its performance. The non-infectious form of inflammation also requires drug treatment. Such treatment is based on immunomodulatory drugs, dietary supplements, and rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory effects.
If the initial stage of the disease has not worsened, then the patient is prescribed physiotherapy in addition to the diet.
In the early stages of prostatitis, it responds well to treatment.
2-stage
Grade 2 prostatitis is accompanied by a temporary weakening of the symptoms. Many men see this condition as healing. They postpone a visit to the doctor or do not pay enough attention to therapy. But a decrease in the inflammatory process with such a diagnosis is a bad sign. During the first stage of the disease, the size of the prostate increased due to the active division of its cells. As a result, scars form on the walls. Rupture of blood vessels leads to disruption of blood supply to the prostate.
The second stage of prostatitis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- violation of biological rhythms;
- Nervousness;
- Pain during urination;
- Heart failure;
- Aggravation of sciatica;
- 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, the pain is felt at the prostate. After it spreads to all areas of the pelvis.
Patients suffering from stage 2 prostatitis are recommended to take immunostimulating drugs and participate in physiotherapy procedures. In order not to complicate the situation, they should avoid hypothermia, give up bad habits and normalize nutrition.
A healthy lifestyle is very important
3 stages
The third stage of inflammation of the prostate causes the most problems. In this case, a man is diagnosed with a chronic form of prostatitis. At this stage, a serious change occurs in the tissues of the prostate. They start to die quickly. The scars formed in the last stages strongly compress the bladder. This provokes the development of urinary retention, which is an extremely dangerous complication.
Stage 3 prostatitis leads to the appearance of pathological changes in the kidneys and bladder. The danger lies in the fact that they are irreversible. At this stage, men often complain of sciatica.
The last stage of the development of the disease is associated with the following symptoms:
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Severe pain during urination;
- Poor urine flow;
- Cut in the area of the kidneys;
- Absence of a feeling of complete emptying of the bladder after going to the toilet.
The last stage of chronic prostatitis is considered the most dangerous. At this stage, the dying 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 the fact that the system does not work properly, cystic formations develop in humans. In addition, impotence develops.
Since the symptoms are very pronounced in the last stages of the disease, the patient's life is very complicated. He is in constant pain day and night. It often happens that men consult a urologist for the first time precisely because of such obvious symptoms of prostatitis. But since irreversible processes have now taken place in the gland, doctors do not guarantee freedom from the pathology even if the patient fulfills all his needs. It is difficult to predict how inflammation will behave at a given stage of development.
If the case is severe and antibiotics do not bring significant relief, the patient is referred for surgery to partially or completely remove the prostate.
In the 3rd stage, the pain becomes severe and the changes in the organs become irreversible.
Stages of acute illness
Prostatitis begins with acute inflammation of the glandular organ. It escalates gradually. The prostate gland is affected by an infection that develops safely in 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 the special symptoms of the disease until he is in the acute stage.
Prostatitis caused by an infectious agent 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 stages of the disease, which follow each other.
catarrhal stage
At this stage, the inflammatory process of the prostate begins. It spreads in the ductal tissues of the glandular lobes. He has a swelling of the prostate that continues to grow. At this stage, the man does not have purulent discharge, which may indicate an infection of the gland. He is also bothered by other symptoms:
- Frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- Painful urination;
- General weakness in the body;
- Changing psycho-emotional state;
- apathetic mood;
- Irritability.
Another distinguishing feature of acute prostatitis in the 1st stage of development is the enlargement of the prostate. Although this symptom is also characteristic of the chronic course of the pathology. The doctor notices this feature when palpating the problem area. Special analyzes make it possible to confirm the specialist's fears. It is necessary to refer the patient to the delivery of the secretion of the prostate to study its composition. In case of prostatitis, there is an increased number of leukocytes in the fluid. The doctor will also detect impurities of pus and mucus in the sample.
Treatment of the chronic stage of acute prostatitis consists of taking a group of drugs that suppress inflammation and reduce the severity of the main symptoms of the disease.
Massage with such pathology is strictly prohibited, as are many other similar physiotherapy procedures.
Treatment of the initial stage of acute inflammation of the prostate takes about 2 weeks on average. During this time, the patient is completely free from the disease. The positive result of the therapy is due to the fact that it was started before the pathology had not yet led to the development of irreversible processes in the organs of the urogenital system.
Follicular stage
With the development of this phase of prostatitis, the swelling spreads to the follicles and excretory ducts of the prostate. Its structures begin to compress the adjacent tissues, which causes severe suppuration. The symptoms of the disease intensify, become more pronounced and noticeable. In this condition, men complain of the following signs of malaise:
- The body temperature rises to 38 degrees and does not decrease;
- apathetic mood;
- The appearance of pain in the groin area;
- The spread of pain to the genitals, anal area and hip joint;
- painful urination;
- Pain in the head of the penis;
- Passing stool becomes more difficult;
- Excreting a minimal amount of urine.
When probing the problem area, you may notice asymmetric growth of prostate tissue. When examining the results of the urinalysis, the doctor notices the presence of an excessive amount of pus and white blood cells in the sample.
It is very important to start urgent treatment of the follicular stage of acute prostatitis, otherwise a malignant process may develop in the structures of the glandular organ.
If therapy is neglected, there is a risk of developing cancer
Parenchymal section
Prostate tissues are subject to constant damage. Because of this, a large number of small pustules are formed in them. The urinary tract is further compressed. As a result, there is acute urinary retention. Other symptoms of the parenchymal stage include the following conditions:
- Painful bowel movements;
- an increase in body temperature of 39 degrees or higher;
- A constant feeling of intense thirst;
- Loss of appetite;
- severe weakness;
- Chronic fatigue;
- Difficulty urinating;
- Severe pain in the pelvis, anus and lower back;
- Bloating and constipation.
Contamination from the abnormal mucosa begins to appear in the stool as inflammation affects the intestines. The gland will be quite large and its outline will be blurred.
Stage of abscess formation
This stage of acute prostatitis is accompanied by many painful symptoms that prevent a man from living a full life. They are more pronounced than in the initial stage of the development of the inflammatory process. At this stage, the small pustules merge into a whole formation. Purulent masses quickly accumulate in it. If it gets too big, it will explode. As a result, the accumulated pus is discharged through the urethra. During the stage of abscess formation, the patient suffers from the following symptoms:
- severe malaise;
- rise in body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- Passivity to any action;
- Severe pain in the anus and genitals;
- Difficulty defecating and urinating.
If a man with this condition does not receive proper treatment, he can die. It is very important to remove the abscess so that the patient feels better. Only then do the main symptoms of the disease begin to subside.
Complications
The earlier the treatment of prostatitis begins, the less damage the inflammatory process in the body does. Therefore, it is best to treat the disease at an early stage. But not all men follow this recommendation, as many hope that the disease will go away on its own. Because of this, the disease progresses and leads to the development of unpleasant complications. If you ignore the help of a specialist, you will face the following consequences of untreated prostatitis:
- Appearance of various inflammatory processes in the organs of the urogenital system;
- Decreased sexual desire;
- Psychological disorders;
- Infertility;
- Impotence.
It is not uncommon for men with prostatitis to have normal erections. Because of this, the patient's sexual activity is significantly reduced. In some cases, the absence of ejaculation is considered a complication. A man's penis may fall off severely. If such discrepancies are found, a professional should be consulted to find out the nature of the violation and find a way to eliminate it.
Do not forget that the inflammatory process can actively spread to neighboring tissues and organs. Therefore, cystitis and urethritis also develop in men against the background of prostatitis. These diseases lead to a violation of the outflow of urine. The appearance of chronic incontinence is not excluded.
Men consider impotence to be one of the most serious complications of acute or chronic prostatitis. With such a deviation, the ability to excite ceases. The reason for this is inflammation, which disrupts the process of tissue nutrition. Edema does not allow the corpora cavernosa to completely fill with blood. Medicine has learned to treat this complication with long-term drug therapy. However, not all patients who have completed such a course are satisfied with the results.
Prostatitis is called the main cause of the development of 1st degree infertility. In this case, a variant of the disease in which the composition of the seminal fluid changes is considered. The secret changes its acidity and viscosity. All these differences are detected during the examination of the sperm sample submitted for analysis.
Men with the problem of infertility should contact an andrologist. It helps you choose the best treatment.
If prostatitis is severe, it leads to the appearance of 2nd degree infertility. This condition is not suitable for therapeutic treatment.
A man's psycho-emotional mood suffers greatly due to prostatitis. Frequent failures in the intimate sphere are a cause for concern. In the background of this, depressions appear, which further worsen the patient's general condition.
More than 30% of patients diagnosed with prostatitis face psycho-emotional experiences. A psychologist helps them restore their male libido, which has decreased due to stress.
Impotence and infertility are common complications of the disease
Remission of chronic prostatitis
Once treatment for prostatitis has been started, the patient can achieve remission. This is the name of the condition in which the symptoms of the disease are significantly weakened or completely disappear. Prostatitis in remission is recorded in most patients who have already completed the full course of treatment. This period varies from person to person. If a man does not follow the doctor's recommendations, after a while the inflammation of the prostate worsens. And then the patient must be treated again.
Types
Remission of prostatitis can be complete or incomplete. In the first case, after complete therapy, the man is no longer bothered by all the symptoms of the pathology. You will forget about them for a long time. Incomplete remission usually lasts up to 3 months. During this time, the patient may complain of minor symptoms typical of prostatitis. For example, many people continue to experience painful urination and discomfort in the pelvic area.
Period
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;
- The severity of the disease;
- Disease stage.
It also takes into account how conscientiously the patient follows the doctor's recommendations to prevent the recurrence of prostatitis.
If a person meets all the requirements of a specialist and takes good care of his own health, his remission can last for several decades. Sometimes the disease recedes completely.
Forecast
If a patient undergoing treatment for chronic prostatitis leads a correct lifestyle, carries out control tests and visits his doctor regularly, as well as takes medicines that prevent the recurrence of prostatitis, he will recover favorably. prognosis. In this case, the disease may never bother you again.
If a man does get prostatitis, he should start treatment right away. You need to consult a professional for this. A complete examination of the urogenital system helps the urologist choose the appropriate treatment that will stop the disease and eliminate the complications that have arisen.