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 longer a man with prostatitis delays seeking help from a doctor, the lower his chances of making a full recovery.
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that appears in the prostate gland.More than half of the elderly male population is personally familiar with this disease.Doctors identify several forms of the disease, each of which occurs in its own way.When making the diagnosis, urologists specify the type of prostatitis found in the patient.The 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 cope with the inflammation.The chronic course is characterized by the absence of obvious symptoms of discomfort.Therefore, this form of prostatitis is usually detected during a routine examination by a urologist.
Acute prostatitis, even at the initial stage, produces bright symptoms, while chronic prostatitis does not manifest itself for a long time.
Stages of chronic disease
Chronic prostatitis is divided into several stages, which occur if the man does not try to combat the disease.It can remain dormant for several years.At the same time, the pathology periodically worsens.Remission and relapse of the disease gradually replace each other.
It depends solely on the patient's actions how long he will treat the disease, to what stage it can reach and whether he can fully recover.
Stage 1
The initial stage of the prostate is considered the safest for health.That is why doctors recommend starting treatment at this stage.But the difficulty is that at first the disease does not cause much discomfort.A man does not even always know that he is sick.If for various reasons the patient was unable to overcome the pathological process in the prostate, he will move to a more serious stage.And this will happen until the therapy stops the infectious agent.
First degree prostatitis is characterized by the following symptoms, which will be mild:
- The body temperature rises to 38 degrees.After some time, it may increase to 40 degrees;
- Severe pain is felt in the hip joint area;
- Discomfort occurs during bowel movements;
- The penis becomes more flaccid;
- When urinating, you may notice mucus that is colorless;
- Pain appears when urinating;
- The urethra narrows more, so you have to strain to empty the bladder;
- At night, the frequent need to go to the bathroom begins to bother you;
- Sexual relations become less prolonged.
All these signs are a good reason to visit a specialist.They will bother a man for up to 3 years.It is during this time 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 a man that the disease has subsided, but after a while it manifests 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 combat this form of pathology.The treatment will take a long time and require the investment of large sums.However, there is no guarantee that after completing the therapeutic course the disease will disappear.
A urologist can identify the initial stage of prostatitis in a patient by undergoing a series of diagnostic procedures.The disease is detected through the following studies:
- Palpation of the rectum;
- Collection of secretions and sperm;
- General urine and blood analysis;
- Sperm analysis;
- Ultrasound of the prostate gland.
Analysis of the research results will allow the specialist to determine the disease and its cause.If the prostatitis turns out to be infectious, the man will be offered to take antibiotics and other medications that help restore the affected prostate tissue and normalize its functioning.The non-infectious form of inflammation also requires drug treatment.This treatment will be based on immunomodulatory drugs, dietary supplements and rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory effects.
If the initial stage of the disease occurs in a non-aggravated form, the patient is additionally prescribed physiotherapy treatment along with a diet.
In an early stage, prostate inflammation responds well to treatment.
Stage 2
Second degree prostatitis is accompanied by a temporary weakening of symptoms.Many men perceive this condition as a recovery.They postpone visits to the doctor or stop paying proper attention to therapy.But a decrease in the inflammatory process with such a diagnosis is a bad sign.As the first stage of the disease progressed, the size of the prostate increased due to the active division of its cells.As a result, scars form on the walls.Vascular ruptures cause a disruption of blood supply to the prostate.
The second stage of prostatitis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Alteration 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 location of the pain syndrome.Initially, pain is felt at the location of the prostate.Later it extends to all areas of the pelvis.
Patients with stage 2 prostatitis are recommended to take immunostimulating medications and attend physiotherapy procedures.So that the situation does not get complicated, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia, abandon bad habits and normalize your diet.
It is very important to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
Stage 3
The third stage of the development of inflammation in the prostate is the one that brings the most problems.In this case, the man is diagnosed with a chronic form of prostatitis.At this stage, a major change occurs in the prostate tissue.They begin to die quickly.The scars formed in the previous stages greatly compress the bladder.This causes the development of urinary retention, which is an extremely dangerous complication.
Prostatitis in the third stage of development leads to the appearance of pathological changes in the kidneys and bladder.The 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 need to urinate;
- Severe pain when urinating;
- Weak urinary pressure;
- Cut in the kidney area;
- Lack of sensation of completely emptying the bladder after going to the bathroom.
The last stage of chronic prostatitis is considered the most dangerous.At this stage, dying cells are replaced by connective tissue.This change causes a decrease in the size of the prostate and a narrowing of the urinary tract.Because the system does not function properly, man develops cystic formations.He also develops impotence.
Since in the later stages of the disease its symptoms are very pronounced, the patient's life becomes very complicated.The constant pain does not allow him to rest, day or night.Very often, for the first time, men turn to a urologist precisely because of such obvious symptoms of prostatitis.But since at this time irreversible processes have already occurred in the gland, doctors do not guarantee the elimination of pathology, even if the patient meets 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 partially or completely remove the prostate gland.
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 is gradually getting worse.The prostate gland is affected by an infection that successfully develops in it 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 he is in the acute phase.
Inflammation of the prostate, caused by an infectious pathogen, manifests itself from the first days of the disease.Therefore, this form of pathology is diagnosed before the chronic one.Acute prostatitis is characterized by slightly different stages of development.Doctors distinguish 4 degrees of the disease, which follow one another.
catarrhal stage
At this stage the inflammatory process in the prostate begins.It spreads in the ductal tissues of the glandular lobes.Swelling of the prostate occurs, which continues to progress.At this stage, the man does not have purulent discharge that could indicate an infection in the gland.Other symptoms will bother you:
- Frequent need to go to the bathroom;
- Painful urge to urinate;
- General weakness in the body;
- Variable psycho-emotional state;
- Apathetic mood;
- Irritability.
Another distinctive feature of acute prostatitis in stage 1 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.You should definitely refer the patient to donate prostate secretion to study its composition.With prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes will be detected in the fluid.The doctor will also detect impurities of pus and mucus in the sample.
Treatment of the catarrhal 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 this course of pathology is strictly prohibited, like many other similar physiotherapy procedures.
On average, treatment of the initial stage of acute inflammation of the prostate lasts about 2 weeks.During this time, the patient completely gets rid of the disease.The positive result of 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 phase of prostatitis, the swelling spreads to the follicles and excretory canals of the prostate.Its structures begin to compress neighboring tissues, causing serious suppuration.The symptoms of the disease intensify and become more pronounced and noticeable.In this condition, men complain of the following signs of illness:
- The 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 area and hip joint;
- Pain when urinating;
- Pain in the head area of the penis;
- Defecation becomes more difficult;
- Produce a minimal amount of urine.
When you palpate the problem area, you can detect an asymmetrical increase in the prostate tissue.When examining the results of a urine test, your doctor will detect the presence of excess pus and white blood cells in the sample.
It is very important to start urgent treatment of the follicular stage of acute prostatitis, since 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;
- Increased 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 stage of acute prostatitis is accompanied by a series of painful signs that prevent men from leading a full life.They are more pronounced than at the initial stage of development of the inflammatory process.At this stage, the small pustules merge, forming a complete formation.Purulent masses quickly accumulate inside.When it grows too much, it explodes.As a result, the accumulated pus is released through the urethra.At the stage of abscess formation, the patient suffers from the following symptoms:
- Severe discomfort;
- Increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- Passivity in the face of any action;
- Intense pain in the anus and genitals;
- Difficulty defecating and urinating.
If a man in this condition does not receive proper treatment, he can die.It is very important to remove the abscess so that the patient's well-being improves.Only after this will the main signs of the disease begin to disappear.
Complications
The sooner prostatitis treatment is started, the less damage the inflammatory process will cause to the body.That is why it is better to combat the disease at an early stage.But not all men follow this recommendation, since many hope that the ailment 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;
- Sterility;
- Impotence.
It is not uncommon for men who have had prostatitis to not have a normal erection.This 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 drop.If such deviations are detected, it is necessary to visit 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 cause a disturbance in urine flow.The appearance of chronic incontinence cannot be ruled out.
Men perceive impotence as one of the most serious complications of acute or chronic prostatitis.With such a deviation, the ability to excite disappears.This is due to inflammation, which interferes with the tissue nutrition process.Edema prevents the corpora cavernosa from filling completely 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 considered the main cause of the development of first 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 level of acidity and viscosity.All of these anomalies are detected during the examination of the semen sample sent for analysis.
When faced with the problem of infertility, men should consult an andrologist.He will help you choose the optimal treatment.
If prostatitis is severe, it will cause grade 2 infertility. This condition is not amenable to therapeutic treatment.
A man's psycho-emotional mood is greatly affected due to inflammation of the prostate.Frequent failures in the intimate sphere worry you.Against this background, depression appears, which further worsens the patient's general condition.
More than 30% of patients diagnosed with prostatitis experience psychoemotional experiences.A psychologist helps them recover male libido, which has been reduced due to stress.
Impotence and infertility are common complications of the disease.
Remission of chronic prostatitis.
If prostatitis treatment has been started, the patient can achieve remission.This is the name of 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 the majority of patients who have completed full treatment.This period lasts different times for each person.If a man does not follow the doctor's recommendations, then after some time an exacerbation of prostate inflammation will occur.And then the patient will have to be treated again.
Species
Remission of prostatitis can be complete or incomplete.In the first case, after complete therapy, the man stops bothering absolutely all the symptoms of the pathology.You forget about them for a long period.Incomplete remission usually lasts no more than 3 months.During this time, the patient may complain of minor symptoms that characterize prostatitis.For example, many people 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 the remission will last for a particular person who has been treated for prostatitis.This indicator is individual.The duration of this period depends directly on a number of factors:
- The causative agent of the disease;
- General condition of the body;
- Quality of treatment;
- Disease severity;
- Stage of the disease.
It is also taken into account how conscientiously the patient follows the recommendations of the treating doctor, which relate to the prevention of relapses of prostatitis.
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 had to undergo treatment for chronic prostatitis begins to lead a correct lifestyle, undergoes control tests and periodically visits his doctor, in addition to taking medications to prevent relapse of prostate inflammation, then 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 complications that may arise.