Prostatitis in men

4 November 2026

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process affecting the prostate tissue.This is one of the most common diseases in the urologist's practice.The disease is diagnosed mainly in men aged 25-30, but at an older age the risk of developing pathology increases significantly.

The form distinguishes between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the latter case, the inflammation is characterized by a long course with periodic relapses.This condition is much more common compared to acute.

Causes of prostatitis

Many prostate diseases, for example, benign hyperplasia or neoplasms, are problems of the older age group.However, prostatitis does not fall into this category.Its symptoms usually appear in men between the ages of 30 and 50.Most often, the cause is an infectious lesion due to the penetration of pathogenic flora from the urogenital canal or the glands of the genitourinary system.This is explained by the proximity of the urethra and the anus.

Among the most common causative agents of bacterial (infectious) prostatitis, Gram-negative microorganisms should be noted: Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, serrated edge, Enterobacter and Proteus.Often the inflammatory process develops against the background of STD infection: chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas, herpes virus, etc.As a rule, such forms of the disease are diagnosed in men under the age of 35.Cases of treatment of pathology in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are extremely rare.

There are also non-bacterial types of prostatitis.Among their main reasons:

increased pressure on the prostate gland.
autoimmune disorders (destruction of prostate cells by antibodies).
pelvic muscle pain syndrome.
psychoemotional disorders;
motor activity deficit.
excessive physical stress.

Primary signs of prostatitis

The disease is accompanied by a complex of disorders that affect the functioning of the entire urinary system.Among the main symptoms:

uncontrollable urination;
discomfort, pain when emptying the bladder.
potency disorder in men of reproductive age.
pain in the perineum when sitting for a long time.
frequent and strong urge to urinate.
difficulty emptying the bladder.
decreased libido and erectile problems.
reproductive dysfunction (infertility).
feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after visiting the toilet.
inability to achieve a high-quality and lasting erection even with intense stimulation.

Signs of acute prostatitis

The symptoms of the disease in an acute form and the general clinical picture differ depending on the stage of the pathological process:

Catarrhal.The patient complains of frequent urges, pain during urination, pain in the perineum and sacrum.
Pericarpio.The pain syndrome becomes intense, may radiate to the anus and intensify during defecation.Urine is released in a thin stream.In some cases there is a delay.An increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees for a long time (low-grade fever) or moderate hyperthermia is observed.
Parenchymatous.The man begins to experience general intoxication of the body with chills and temperature up to 38-40°C.The pain in the perineum becomes sharp and throbbing.The act of defecation is difficult and normal bladder emptying is impossible, resulting in acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The chronic form of inflammation of the prostate can be a consequence of the absence or untimely treatment of the acute stage.However, in many men it develops immediately and is characterized by "fuzzy" symptoms.Among the main signs are:

low-grade fever (occasionally).
mild pain in perineum.
discomfort during urination;
minimal discharge from the genitourinary canal during defecation.

In general, the clinical picture changes over time, varies in intensity in different patients, and can become hidden when self-treatment is attempted.Symptoms of a chronic disorder may include a burning sensation in the urethra, pressure in the perineum, dysuria, decreased sexual function, and increased general fatigue.In the context of problems with power, mental depression, irritability and anxiety appear.The fear of impotence leads to the development of complexes, but most men tend to postpone visiting a urologist due to a feeling of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis develops over a long period of time.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostatitis) causes the initial stage of non-bacterial inflammation, which leads to the appearance of the disease.

With an infectious etiology, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process due to infection with trichomonads, ureaplasma, chlamydia or gonococcus.The primary infection masks the signs of prostatitis and its treatment does not eliminate the inflammation of the prostate.Often the addition of an accompanying problem remains unnoticed by a man.

Let's examine in detail the three main symptoms of chronic prostatitis:

Urinary tract disorder (dysuria).Inflammation increases the volume of the prostate gland, which leads to compression of the ureter.As his lumen decreases, there is a frequent urge to urinate and a feeling of an incompletely empty bladder.Dysuric disorders in many men appear in the initial stages of prostatitis.The compensatory mechanism during this period manifests itself in hypertrophy of the muscles of the bladder and ureters, which reduces the symptoms of dysuria, but with the development of inflammation they increase again.
Pain syndrome.There are no pain receptors in prostate tissue.Pain occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to other pelvic organs and their nerve pathways.Sensations range from mild and aching to very intense, which interfere with nighttime rest.Increased discomfort occurs with ejaculation, sexual abstinence or excessive sexual activity.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum and sometimes to the lumbar region.
Violation of power.Lack of treatment in the early stages of prostatitis can lead to impotence, when a man experiences frequent night erections, deterioration of orgasm quality and acceleration of ejaculation.In different patients, these signs manifest themselves with different intensity.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a decrease in the excitability threshold of the orgasmic center.In this case, the patient feels pain, which leads to the development of pain anticipation syndrome and gradual refusal of sexual activity.In the absence of comprehensive treatment that addresses the mental factor of the disorder, sexual disorders become increasingly worse.Ignoring the need to seek medical help for prostatitis often results in helplessness.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies with individual factors.Some men fear erectile dysfunction so much that their problems arise due to cues rather than objective physiological factors.In particular, psychogenic weakness is observed precisely with increased anxiety and obsessive complexes.The very thought of possible male health disorders is difficult for such patients.This greatly affects their character and communication with others.Irritability, hypochondria, whining and depression occur.

Complications of prostatitis

Lack of adequate treatment for prostate inflammation leads to co-morbidities.The fact is that the prostate gland is closely connected with other organs of the male genitourinary system.It is located around the neck of the bladder and urethra.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra is compressed and the normal flow of urine is disturbed.Taking into account the peculiarities of physiology, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated in time, a number of serious pathologies and complications arise.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

Many urological problems have similar symptoms, so the specialist works with each clinical case individually and uses all available diagnostic tools.Consultation with a urologist always begins with an inquiry about symptoms, medical history and general examination.The doctor then prescribes a series of tests, based on the results of which a diagnosis is made and the appropriate treatment is chosen.As a rule, the examination package includes:

rectal digital examination of the prostate to determine the size, structure of the prostate gland and the level of compression of the urethra.
Ultrasound of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys).
laboratory tests of urine, prostate secretion, ejaculation.
tests for genitourinary infections.
urodynamic study.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis in men and related disorders, you should refrain from urinating for 2-3 hours before visiting a urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be completely correct, since when the cyst is emptied, the pathogenic microflora is washed away.According to the characteristics of the clinical picture, the ultrasound method is chosen: transrectal or abdominal (through the abdominal wall).After determining the cause and stage of the disease, a treatment strategy is developed.

Treatment methods for prostatitis

The main treatment is antibiotics.The use of modern pharmacological developments gives high results, although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of relapse.The doctor prescribes an antibacterial drug after culture of urine and/or prostate secretion for the type of pathogen.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic therapy lasts about 4-6 weeks.In chronic or recurrent forms of the disease, the treatment will last longer (depending on the clinical picture).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis), hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic therapy are required.

If there is difficulty urinating, the urologist prescribes drugs that relieve the hypertonicity of the muscles of the bladder and prostate, which normalizes the outflow of urine and prevents stagnation.Some patients are treated with drugs that reduce sex hormone levels.As a result, there is a decrease in the size of the prostate and, consequently, a feeling of discomfort during urination, defecation and ejaculation.With severe enlargement of the prostate gland, muscle relaxants help to relieve overexertion of the bladder sphincter and adjacent muscles.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effectively combat pain.Also, chronic prostatitis responds well to adjunctive physiotherapy.The effective methods of such treatment are:

instillation of drugs into the urethra.
prostate massage;
Shock Wave Therapy (SWT)?
magnetic laser therapy (MLT);
electrophoresis?
ozone therapy;
intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI);
blood ultraviolet radiation (UFOI).

Prostate massage is a commonly used urological technique.The doctor uses the method of digital stimulation of the prostate gland through the rectum to enhance the outflow of secretions and restore the patency of the pores of the organ.An additional effect is the improvement of blood circulation and the acceleration of the penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissues.In addition to finger massage of the prostate, material methods are also possible.Shockwave therapy shows good results in the treatment of prostatitis.The basis of this medical technology is short-term exposure to low-frequency sound waves in the area of inflammation.The process helps:

activates local blood circulation and the growth of new vessels.
stimulate the regenerative abilities of the body itself.
they destroy fibrous foci and calcifications that cause pain and inflammatory processes.

After a course of shockwave therapy, the symptoms of prostatitis are relieved and a good preventive effect is observed.Strong results can be achieved only with a comprehensive approach to the problem.In addition, the patient's responsible attitude towards medical prescriptions is important.

For their part, the clinic's urologists ensure the preparation of an individual treatment regimen, taking into account the cause, form, stage of the disease, general well-being and the presence of accompanying pathologies.

Prevention of prostatitis

To minimize the risk of relapse, it is necessary to reduce the negative effects on the body.Among the causative factors are:

Smoking.The anatomical features of the location of the prostate gland lead to constant oxygen starvation, and the inhalation of cigarette smoke causes vasospasm, which further slows down local microcirculation processes.All experienced smokers have the problem of hypertension.
Deficit of motor activity."Sedentary" work and a sedentary lifestyle lead to congestion in the pelvic organs.
Alcohol abuse.Exceeding the daily alcohol limit affects general health and makes the body more vulnerable to various infectious diseases.
Stressful conditions.It is necessary to avoid as much as possible situations that lead to anxiety, irritability and depressive disorders.If necessary, you should contact a qualified specialist.
Hypothermia.Exposure to low temperatures reduces immunity, which makes the body "open" to colds and inflammation.
Fatigue, excessive physical activity.You should not forget about the schedule of work and rest, as well as lifting heavy weights.

Preventive measures will help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and relapses of chronic prostatitis.For questions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate inflammation, you can always contact the urology department of our clinic.