Fighting prostatitis is a complex and quite lengthy process that does not allow for self-medication.Since this disease can lead to pathological changes in male reproductive function and severe disruption of the functions of other organs and systems, all measures for diagnosis and determination of necessary treatment strategies should be performed exclusively by a urologist.How to treat prostatitis to make the disease subside as soon as possible, and what does the complex treatment include?
Diagnosis of prostatitis
It is usually not difficult for a urologist to identify the presence of prostatitis in a patient, and the main goal of the diagnostic procedure is to determine the cause and form of the disease.Certain types of examinations may cause discomfort or pain to the patient, but the attending physician needs to go through certain stages of clinical diagnosis in order to gather useful information:
- Primary digital rectal examination and collection of prostate secretions for analysis to determine the nature of the disease (nonbacterial or infectious form of prostatitis).If infectious agents are detected in biological material, tests are performed to determine the susceptibility of the causative microflora to antibiotics in order to optimize subsequent treatment measures.
- Transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound.Prescribed as needed to characterize the prostate.Transabdominal ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall without causing discomfort to the patient.However, transrectal prostate examination (through the rectum), although somewhat painful, is a more informative procedure, since it allows you to determine not only the parameters of the gland, but also changes in its structure.
- PSA blood test.Prostate-specific antigen in the blood above normal levels (4 ng/ml) may indicate the presence of a pathological process in the prostate.The measurement of PSA value must be performed not only during the diagnosis of prostatitis, but also during the treatment of the disease to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
Main therapeutic ingredients and methods for treating prostatitis
Acute prostatitis and exacerbations of chronic forms of the disease are treated according to similar protocols.Correctly chosen, rational treatment presupposes the complete recovery of the patient in the first case, and leads to cure or long-term remission of the patient's disease in the second case.Only a urologist can decide how to treat prostatitis without damaging the patient's health and to achieve maximum results through the means and methods used; the patient's role in this process is to strictly follow all instructions of the specialist.
drug treatment
Drug therapy is the basis for any therapeutic effect on prostatic inflammation.The urologist selects the necessary medication based on data from laboratory tests and other preliminary studies.The directions of drug treatment include:
- Reduce the patient’s pain level;
- Normalization of blood circulation in the prostate and adjacent organs;
- Locating and destroying sources of infection;
- Eliminate inflammation and congestion in the prostate;
- Stabilize the patient’s immunity, sexual performance, and overall health
The best results of drug therapy are achieved by combining antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs, antidepressants, microenemas and suppositories in a health plan.
topical treatment
Local restorative effect on the prostate and its inflamed areas is achieved by using various types of physical therapy in the treatment plan:
- ultrasonic electrophoresis;
- transrectal microwave hyperthermia;
- kinetic electrophoresis;
- laser treatment;
- Prostate Massage.
It should be noted that although massage is relatively painful, it is the most effective way to combat prostatitis.With this type of surgery, stagnant secretions can be cleared from the prostate, thereby improving circulation to the affected tissue and increasing the effectiveness of the patient's medications.Massage is prescribed to patients during remission or resolution of acute manifestations of the disease.During an exacerbation of prostatitis, doctors exclude surgeries from the list of treatment measures because they may cause the spread of infection.
herbal medicine
Herbal treatments are given to patients with prostatitis as part of a comprehensive therapy.Since plant-derived supplements are harmless to the body and have low incidence of side effects, they can be used for a long time.Herbal medicines can be taken internally and/or externally in the form of juices, decoctions or infusions of St. John's wort, ginseng, calamus, periwinkle, burdock, nettle and other medicinal plants.For chronic prostatitis, doctors may prescribe magnetic, sonic or electrophoretic herbal treatments.
Drugs to Treat Prostatitis
A patient's medication regimen is prescribed by a doctor based on individual circumstances.The antibiotic program was developed taking into account the following specific criteria:
- form of disease;
- Type of pathogen and antimicrobial activity of the drug;
- The drug penetrates into the prostate tissue;
- There are no contraindications to taking this drug;
- Method of administration;
- possible side effects
Antimicrobial drugs are mainly divided into three categories based on their effectiveness in treating chronic and acute prostatitis:
- Fluoroquinolones.This group of drugs has a broad spectrum of action and is able to accumulate in high concentrations in prostate tissue; in this case, pathogenic bacteria do not develop resistance to the active agents.The "disadvantages" of fluoroquinolones are their potential for negative effects on the central nervous system and the potential for allergic reactions in patients.
- Tetracyclines.These drugs are most effective against atypical pathogens, but are not active enough against E. coli and staphylococci and are completely ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Macrolides.Macrolides are easy to penetrate and accumulate in glandular tissue; however, they have low toxicity and can effectively kill Gram-positive bacteria, but their inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacteria is weak.
During the first few days of taking prescribed antimicrobials, patients diagnosed with prostatitis should see their doctor regularly.This measure is necessary for urologists to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotics.If after three days of treatment the specialist does not notice any significant improvement in the patient's condition, he changes the main drug.When prescribing antibiotics, doctors must consider a patient's experience with similar drugs to avoid prescribing the same drug again.
In addition to antimicrobials and analgesics, patients with prostatitis may also receive hormone therapy and/or alpha-blockers:
- Hormone therapy.The condition and function of the prostate are directly dependent on the levels of androgens and estrogen in a man's body.Treating prostatitis with hormonal medications can shift the balance of "female" and "male" hormones in specific directions.Since such drugs help reduce the glandular tissue of the prostate, we can talk about an indirect role of antiandrogens in the recovery of patients with prostatitis.
- Alpha adrenergic blockers.Taking this type of medication is a medical treatment; its purpose is to relieve the general symptoms of prostate inflammation.Using alpha-blockers is particularly effective for urinary problems.By relieving spasm in the sphincter, ureteral wall, bladder smooth muscle, and the prostate itself, it prevents stagnation or reflux of prostate secretions and relieves swelling of the inflamed organ.
Regardless of the purpose and specific circumstances of use, any medication should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician and under his supervision.Self-medication may lead to disease complications or render subsequent treatments ineffective in clinical settings.
Immune correction is key to successful treatment
The entire course of treatment of chronic or acute prostatitis must be accompanied by immunological corrective measures (regular visits to an immunologist, normalization of lifestyle, taking vitamins, immunomodulators, etc.).The body's high immune status helps patients recover quickly or prolong remission of chronic diseases.
If symptoms characteristic of the disease appear, promptly see a specialist, strictly adhere to medical advice when diagnosing prostatitis, prevent the recurrence of existing diseases, and resolutely refuse self-medication and choose the professional intervention of a urologist, which will allow you to avoid long-term treatment and the negative consequences of a serious disease.