With the development of a typical clinical form of prostatitis, its symptoms can be different and at the same time appear simultaneously.However, even in this situation, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the organism, the type of pathogen, the stage of the disease, etc.
First of all, it is necessary to understand that there are several clinical forms of the disease, which, despite the common “target organ” - the prostate gland, proceed in completely different ways.And symptoms characteristic of one form of the disease may be absent in another.
Classification approaches in dividing forms of diseases
Based on WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations and industry protocols, it is generally accepted to divide into the following types of pathology:
- Acute prostatitis without specifying the etiological factor;
- Chronic prostatitis, etiologically associated with bacteria;
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with signs of prostate inflammation;
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) without signs of prostate inflammation;
- Asymptomatic chronic bacteriuria and leukocyturia in the absence of diseases of other organs of the genitourinary system;
- Granulomatous prostatitis with signs of fibrosis;
- A combination of any form of prostatitis with other prostate lesions, most often with BPH - benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This classification reflects all possible variants of organ pathology.And it is most correct to describe the most common symptoms of prostatitis from the standpoint of describing each of the clinical forms.
Signs of prostatitis in the clinical picture of acute form
In the acute form of the disease, its symptoms have the most pronounced clinical manifestations.
General manifestations:
- Increased body temperature as a response to the inflammatory process.It is always present and can reach significant values.How high the thermometer rises depends on the causative agent of the disease.
- General asthenia.It manifests itself as severe weakness, malaise, fatigue and a sharp decrease in physical activity.
- Decreased performance.The body, tired of the inflammatory process, is not able to maintain its usual performance and solve problems that require high energy output.
- Laboratory test data.Changes occur in blood and urine tests indicating the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.Most often they are pronounced.But they are nonspecific, as they can be a sign of any inflammation.Therefore, tests must be compared with symptoms.
Local symptoms of prostatitis:
- Pain.It is the most striking symptom of prostatitis.But its severity is a consequence of the intensity of the inflammatory process and has features associated with a specific infectious agent.Most often, pain is projected in the perineum with irradiation to the groin or testicles.
- Discomfort in the groin.Most often, one of the earliest manifestations and quite short-lived, as it quickly gives way to pain.Initially, discomfort appears during physical or sexual activity, and after a while it repeats at rest.Usually accompanied by increased itching, burning, a feeling of fullness in the groin or during urination.
- Mucus discharge.They are not always obligatory and appear in the initial stages.Usually transparent, much less often whitish.They appear most often after urination or are present independently, appearing as stains on the underwear.They are a reflection of severe inflammation and involvement of the initial part of the urethra.
- Hemorrhages or blood impurities.Most often they occur in the form of hematospermia - staining of the ejaculate with blood.When infected with hemolytic strains of bacteria, spontaneous mucous discharge mixed with blood is possible.
- Disturbances in the process of defecation.Due to its anatomical proximity, inflammation of the prostate gland also affects the final part of the gastrointestinal tract.Mainly manifested by constipation.In essence, it is a defensive reaction, since distension of the rectal ampulla leads to increased pain.
At their core, all local manifestations are symptoms of the initial stage of acute prostatitis.These include:
Prostate dysfunction with its symptoms:
- Difficulty urinating.It is a protective reaction of spasms in response to painful impulses.It is also associated with an increase in the volume of the gland and increased pressure on the urethra.Initially, it manifests itself as incomplete emptying of the bladder, which causes straining to complete urination.Subsequently, weakness of the urinary flow occurs, and with a pronounced inflammatory reaction, the development of paradoxical ischuria is possible - the inability to urinate independently when the bladder is full.
- Intimate violations.Initially they manifest themselves in the form of discomfort during sexual intercourse and ejaculation with changes in the seminal fluid.The level of sexual desire and overall sexual activity decrease.There may be fear and active avoidance of intimacy due to pain.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis in the clinical picture of the chronic form
As the disease becomes chronic, the clinical picture also changes.Due to changes in the organ itself and the formation of protective reactions on the part of the body, some symptoms appear more clearly, while others practically do not bother the patient.In addition, regardless of the cause of chronicity, a fairly clear division appears in the clinical picture of the disease.In the exacerbation phase, symptoms of the acute stage of the disease prevail; in the remission phase, disorders of varying degrees of severity are present.Since the clinical picture of an acute disease is described above, manifestations in the remission phase will be considered here.
General manifestations of prostatitis that has gone into remission:
General decrease in vitality and performance.Manifested by weakness and decreased physical activity.Over time, tolerance to stress, shaking and vibration is lost, and intolerance to low ambient temperatures develops.
Local or regional symptoms of prostatitis:
- Discomfort in the groin.Most often it is constantly present and is an analogue of pain during an acute process.For each patient, the degree of discomfort may vary - from minor to maximum.It is discomfort that causes a radical change in the patient’s quality of life, since in order to avoid it, the patient often prefers to refuse intimacy.
- Physiological secretions.During the remission phase, these changes are most often detected only in the laboratory, but there are also physiological changes: a decrease in the volume of seminal fluid, a change in its color or consistency.
- Disturbances in the process of defecation.In this case, a state of chronic constipation develops as a defensive reaction.
Prostate dysfunction:
- Difficulty urinating.It is a reflection of gradually developing changes in the tissues of the prostate gland.The most common symptoms also include a decrease in the speed and volume of urinary flow, as well as a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.To overcome this sensation, the patient strains additionally.
- Violations of the intimate sphere.Inflammation and the fear of pain that arises with it lead to a gradual decrease in a man’s sexual activity and a weakening of libido.Psychological barriers quickly lead to the formation of persistent erectile dysfunction.
The main symptoms of clinical prostatitis, CPPS
The main symptom of chronic pelvic pain syndrome is constantly present pain of varying intensity.For each man, the severity of pain manifestations and their frequency are individual: from mild aching to significant pain and burning at rest, which intensifies even more during urination or defecation.Against this background, a man’s lifestyle changes, general and sexual activity decreases, and depressive states develop.
It is important to note that with CPPS, the first symptoms of prostatitis can appear in just this erased form, without a previous acute period.
Asymptomatic or asymptomatic form of the disease
There are cases when prostatitis pain, like other symptoms, is absent.This is how the asymptomatic form of the disease occurs.It is an accidental finding during examinations and preventive examinations.It often happens that such an asymptomatic course of the disease is temporary.When the immune system is weakened, an acute process with a characteristic clinical picture may develop.
Rare forms of prostatitis
We are talking about the granulomatous form and combined with other changes.What symptoms of prostatitis in men in this case indicate the disease?Initially, the clinic is most often similar to the chronic form, but upon careful examination by specialists, characteristic changes for these rare forms are revealed, which serves as the basis for an accurate diagnosis.
Features of treatment of prostatitis depending on the clinical form
Each clinical form requires its own therapy.Only a doctor can prescribe it; self-medication can lead to complications and worsening of the disease.The selection of therapy is carried out individually, based on an accurate diagnosis.The standards of the relevant mandatory industry protocols are used.
In the acute form of the disease, the main goal of therapy is to prevent chronification and complete cure.
For all chronic forms, it is important to achieve the highest quality and longest remission and to prevent or significantly reduce the frequency of exacerbation of the process.
Prevention of prostatitis as an integral part of treatment
Treatment includes not only the fight against clinical forms of the disease, but also their prevention.Prevention of prostatitis is important both for maintaining health and for treatment.The preventive measures themselves are selected by the doctor for each patient individually.In summary they look like this:
- Lifestyle changes in the form of giving up bad habits and general health improvement;
- Normalization of physiological functions, including bowel movements;
- Stabilization of a man’s intimate life;
- Continuous or course use of symptomatic drugs;
- The use of organotropic drugs.
In terms of clinical and preventive effectiveness, one of the best remedies is a drug from an extract of the prostate glands in the form of ampoules and suppositories for prostatitis.The presence of a complex of specific biologically active compounds allows it to act directly on the gland tissue.As a result, a chain of physiological changes is launched, aimed at increasing the intensity of recovery processes, as well as at significantly reducing the frequency and severity of exacerbations of the chronic form of the disease.