There are several stages of prostatitis. They differ from each other in clinical symptoms and course features. The most effective is the treatment of the initial stage of the development of inflammation of the prostate gland. At this stage, the disease does not have time to greatly affect the functioning of the genitourinary system. The later a man with prostatitis goes to a doctor for help, the lower his chances of a complete recovery.
What is prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that has appeared in the prostate gland. More than half of the older male population knows this disease personally. Doctors distinguish several forms of the disease, each of which proceeds in its own way. When making a diagnosis, urologists specify the type of prostatitis found in a patient. The inflammation can be bacterial or non-bacterial. Both pathologies negatively affect the functioning of the gland and nearby organs.
The pathological process has 2 types of flux:
- 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 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 in the initial stage, gives vivid 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 one another if a man does not try to fight the disease. It can be dormant for several years. In this case, the pathology is periodically exacerbated. Disease remission and relapse gradually replace each other.
It only depends on the patient's actions how long he will treat the disease, at what stage he will be able to reach and whether he will be able to fully recover.
1 stage
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 lies in the fact that at first the disease does not cause much discomfort. A man doesn't even always know he's sick. If for a variety of reasons the patient was unable to overcome the pathological process in the prostate gland, he will move on to a more difficult stage. And so it will continue until the causative agent of the infection is stopped by the therapy.
1st degree prostatitis is characterized by such symptoms that will be mild:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees. After some time, it can rise to 40 degrees;
- There is severe pain in the area of the hip joints;
- There is discomfort during bowel movements;
- The member becomes slower;
- During urination, you may notice mucus that has no color;
- Pain appears when urinating;
- The urethra narrows, so you have to force yourself to empty the bladder;
- At night, frequent urges to the toilet begin to disturb;
- Sexual intercourse becomes shorter.
All these signs are a good reason to visit a specialist. They will upset a man 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 come and go, as the disease manifests itself in waves at this stage. It will seem to a man that the disease has receded, but after a while he betrays himself again.
Most often, patients do not finish the initial stage of inflammation in the prostate gland. Because of this, the disease becomes chronic. It is very difficult to deal with this form of pathology. The treatment will take a long time and will require large sums of money to invest. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the disease will recede at the end of the therapeutic course.
A urologist can detect the early stage of prostatitis in a patient if he undergoes a number of diagnostic procedures. The disease is detected through such studies:
- Palpation of the rectum;
- Collection of secretions and semen;
- General analysis of urine and blood;
- semen analysis;
- Ultrasound of the prostate.
The analysis of the research results will allow the specialist to determine the disease and its cause. If prostatitis turns out to be infectious, the man will be offered to drink antibiotics and other drugs that help restore the affected prostate tissue and normalize its performance. Even a non-infectious form of inflammation requires drug therapy. This treatment will be based on immunomodulatory drugs, food supplements and rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory action.
If the initial stage of the disease proceeds in a non-aggravated form, the patient is additionally prescribed physiotherapy along with a diet.
At an early stage, prostate inflammation responds well to treatment.
2 stages
2nd degree prostatitis is accompanied by a temporary weakening of symptoms. Many men perceive this condition as healing. They postpone visits to the doctor or stop paying due 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, there was an increase in the size of the prostate due to the active division of its cells. As a result, scars are formed on the walls. The rupture of blood vessels leads to the interruption of the blood supply to the prostate gland.
The second stage of prostatitis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Violation of biological rhythms;
- Nervousness;
- Pain when urinating
- Heart failure;
- Exacerbation of sciatica;
- The 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 in the position of the prostate. It then spreads to all areas of the small pelvis.
Patients with stage 2 prostatitis are recommended to take immunostimulating drugs and participate in physiotherapy procedures. In order for the situation not to become more complicated, they need to avoid hypothermia, give up bad habits and normalize nutrition.
It is very important to have a healthy lifestyle
3 stages
The third stage of the development of inflammation in the prostate gland brings most of the problems. In this case, a man is diagnosed with a chronic form of prostatitis. At this stage, there is a severe change in the prostate tissues. They begin to die quickly. The scars formed in the previous stages strongly compress the bladder. This causes urinary retention to develop, which is an extremely dangerous complication.
Prostatitis at 3 degrees of development 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 has the following symptoms:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Severe pain when urinating;
- Weak urine stream;
- Cutting in the region of the kidneys;
- 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, the dying cells are replaced by connective tissue. This change leads to a decrease in the size of the prostate gland and narrowing of the urinary tract. Due to the fact that the system does not work properly, a man develops cystic formations. He also develops impotence.
Since in the late stages of the disease his symptoms are very pronounced, the patient's life is very complicated. Constant pain haunts him day and night. Quite often, for the first time, men turn to a urologist precisely because of such noticeable symptoms of prostatitis. But since irreversible processes have occurred in the gland at this time, doctors do not guarantee the elimination of the pathology even if the patient meets all his 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 bring significant relief, the patient is sent for surgery to partially or completely remove the prostate gland.
In stage 3, the pain becomes severe and the changes in the organs become irreversible.
Stages of acute disease
It is with acute inflammation in the glandular organ that prostatitis begins. It gradually intensifies. The prostate gland is affected by an infection that develops safely inside it with a weakened immune system. Chronic prostatitis is observed in those who have not been able to cope with the acute form of pathology. In this case, the man will not feel the special symptoms of the disease until he is in the acute stage.
Inflammation of the prostate, caused by an infectious agent, manifests itself from the first days of the disease. Therefore, this form of pathology is diagnosed earlier than chronic. 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 in the ductal tissues of the glandular lobules. There is swelling of the prostate, which continues to progress. At this stage, the man has no purulent discharge, which could indicate an infection in the gland. He will be disturbed by other symptoms:
- Frequent urge to go to the bathroom;
- Painful urination
- General weakness in the body;
- Variable psycho-emotional state;
- apathetic mood;
- Irritability.
Another distinguishing feature of acute stage 1 developmental prostatitis is an enlarged prostate gland. Although this symptom is also characteristic of the chronic course of the pathology. The doctor will be able to notice this feature when palpating the problem area. Special analyzes allow you to confirm the fears of a specialist. He must necessarily direct the patient to the administration of the prostatic secretion to study its composition. With prostatitis, more leukocytes will be found in the fluid. Even in the sample, the doctor will detect impurities of pus and mucus.
Treatment of the catarrhal stage of acute prostatitis consists in taking a group of drugs that suppress inflammation and reduce the severity of the main symptoms of the disease.
Massage with such a pathology course is strictly prohibited, like many other similar physiotherapeutic procedures.
On average, the treatment of the initial stage of acute inflammation of the prostate gland takes about 2 weeks. During this period, the patient completely gets rid of the disease. The successful outcome of therapy is due to the fact that it began before the time when the pathology had not yet managed 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 channels of the prostate. Its structures begin to compress nearby tissues, causing severe suppuration. Symptoms of the disease intensify and become more pronounced and noticeable. In this condition, men complain of the following signs of malaise:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees and does not drop;
- apathetic mood;
- The appearance of pain in the groin area;
- Spread of pain to the genitals, anal area and hip joint;
- painful urination;
- Pain in the head of the penis;
- Defecation becomes more difficult;
- The excretion of a minimal amount of urine.
When probing the problem area, an asymmetrical increase in prostate tissue can be detected. When examining the results of a urinalysis, the doctor will detect that there is too much 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 can develop in the structures of the glandular organ.
If therapy is ignored, there is a risk of developing cancer
Parenchymal stage
The tissues of the prostate 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 are the following conditions:
- Painful defecation;
- An increase in body temperature to 39 degrees or more;
- Constant feeling of intense thirst;
- Loss of appetite
- severe weakness;
- Chronic fatigue;
- Difficulty urinating
- Severe pain in the pelvis, anus and lower back;
- Flatulence and constipation.
Impurities of abnormal mucus begin to appear in the stool, as inflammation affects the intestines. The gland becomes quite large and its outlines are blurred.
Stage of abscess formation
This stage of acute prostatitis is accompanied by a number of painful symptoms that prevent a man from leading a full life. They are more pronounced than at the initial stage of the development of the inflammatory process. At this stage, the small pustules merge into an entire formation. Inside it, purulent masses quickly accumulate. When it gets too big, it bursts. As a result, the accumulated pus exits through the urethra. At the stage of the abscess, the patient is tormented by the following symptoms:
- severe malaise;
- Increased body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- Liabilities to any action;
- Intense pain in the anus and genitals;
- Difficulty in defecation and urination.
If a man with this condition does not receive adequate treatment, he could die. It is very important to get rid of the abscess so that the patient feels better. Only then will the main signs of the disease begin to subside.
Complications
The earlier the treatment of prostatitis is started, the less harm the inflammatory process will bring to the body. That is why it is best to tackle the disease at an early stage. But not all men adhere to this recommendation, as many hope that the ailment will go away 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 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 can drop sharply. If such deviations are detected, it is necessary to visit a specialist to find out the nature of the violation and find ways to eliminate it.
Do not forget that the inflammatory process can actively spread to nearby tissues and organs. That is why, against the background of prostatitis, men additionally develop cystitis and urethritis. These diseases lead to a violation of the outflow of urine. The appearance of chronic incontinence is not excluded.
Impotence is perceived by men 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 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 result.
It is prostatitis that is called the main cause of the development of 1st degree infertility. In this case, a variant of the disease is considered, in which the composition of the seminal fluid changes. The secret changes its level of acidity and viscosity. All these deviations are detected during the study of the sperm sample, which was sent for analysis.
With the problem of infertility, men should contact an andrologist. She will help you choose the best treatment.
If the prostatitis is severe, it will lead to the appearance of 2nd degree infertility. This condition is not amenable to therapeutic treatment.
A man's psycho-emotional mood suffers greatly due to inflammation of the prostate. Frequent failures in the intimate sphere cause him to worry. In this context, depressions appear that further worsen the general condition of the patient.
Over 30% of patients diagnosed with prostatitis face 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 the treatment of prostatitis has been started, the patient can achieve his remission. This is the name of the condition in which there is a significant weakening of the symptoms of the disease or their complete disappearance. Prostatitis in remission is fixed in most patients who have completed a full course of treatment. This period varies from person to person. If a man does not adhere to the recommendations of a doctor, an exacerbation of inflammation of the prostate will occur after a while. And then the patient will have to be treated again.
types
Remission with prostatitis can be complete and incomplete. In the first case, after complete therapy, the man ceases to be disturbed by all the symptoms of the pathology. He forgets about them for a long time. Incomplete remission usually lasts no longer than 3 months. During this period, the patient may complain of minor symptoms that characterize prostatitis. For example, many continue to experience painful urination 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 a number of factors:
- The causative agent of the disease;
- General condition of the body;
- The quality of the treatment;
- The severity of the disease;
- Stage of the disease.
It also takes into account how conscientiously the patient follows the recommendations of the attending physician, which concern the prevention of recurrence of prostatitis.
If a man meets all the requirements of a specialist and takes care of his health, then his remission can last 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, will carry out follow-up tests and regularly visit his doctor, as well as take medications to prevent recurrence of prostate inflammation, then he will have a favorable healing prognosis. In this case, the disease may never bother a person again.
If a man still gets prostatitis, he should start therapy immediately. For this, you need to contact a specialist. A complete examination of the genitourinary system will help the urologist choose the appropriate treatment that will stop the disease and eliminate the complications that have arisen.