Any healthy man can get prostatitis;no one is immune to it.Even astronauts and athletes with ideal lifestyles are in the "risk zone".Knowing the symptoms will help you detect prostatitis promptly and begin treatment.
Urinary disorders
The urethra, the urethra, passes through the prostate.One of its functions is to control the flow of urine, opening and closing the outlet from the bladder.So, when the prostate becomes irritated or inflamed, problems with urination often begin.
The urge increases or decreases
Symptoms of prostatitis are precisely the increased frequency of desire accompanied by a decrease in the amount of urine in one portion.Simply increasing the frequency of cravings for the same servings and volumes can be normal (I just started drinking more liquids) or a sign of a disease such as diabetes - diabetes mellitus or non-diabetic diabetes.That is, the total amount of urine per day increases sharply, and therefore a person runs to the toilet more often.Often this happens, for example, when eating watermelon.Very large or very large portions of urine.
But when the same amount of urine comes out in one day, but it is distributed in 10-30 trips to the toilet - the size of each portion will, of course, be many times smaller.In women, this is observed with cystitis, in men - with prostatitis or urethritis, with any irritation of the urinary tract, including inflammation.This symptom may be fairly stable or it may fluctuate.If the stimulant temporarily weakens the effect, for example when inflammation subsides.In the case of chronic prostatitis, this does not indicate recovery but an improvement in the condition.This is diagnostically important
Weakness of urine stream
Weak urine flow is an important symptomatic feature of prostate problems.Usually it is brought on by two main diseases.Adenoma (hyperplasia) of the prostate and prostatitis.It's easy to tell them apart.Adenoma, as a rule, appears in the elderly, and prostatitis - more often occurs in active young men.In any case, this is a symptom that requires examining the prostate, not other organs.Exceptions are rare (stones, urethral stricture).
The dependence of the intensity of urine flow on the effect on the gland is specific.From ejaculation, sex or lack thereof.Due to walking or sitting for long periods of time.From violating the diet or following it.
Feeling of discomfort
A very characteristic feature is not only increased frequency of desire, but also a feeling of discomfort when urinating.For example, when eating watermelon, you may run to the bathroom every 10-15 minutes but feel quite pleasant and satisfied.But prostatitis will make you feel the need to go to the toilet very uncomfortable, "compulsory".This brought relief - but only for a fairly short time.At night, the urge is more frequent and often more unpleasant.This can interfere with sleep and is often one of the main complaints.
Urine fraction size
The size of the urine fractions is reduced.This is due to both the irritating effects of prostatitis and the increased sensitivity of the urinary tract in case of inflammation.Hypersensitivity - gives the feeling that a lot of urine has accumulated in the bladder, "half a bucket" - but in fact there is about 30 - 100 ml.
Serving sizes may vary.With more fluids, urinary tract irritation will decrease as the urine becomes more diluted.It turns out to be a paradox - a person drinks more liquid, but goes to the toilet less often due to increasing rations.
The urgings were sharp and urgent
Compulsive (extreme) urges - more common during periods of exacerbation or with age.They can force a man to refuse trips or go “from one toilet to another” on his own.In more severe cases, this results in the man having to wear diapers.On the one hand, the urine flow is weaker, on the other hand, when you feel the need to urinate, you have to go to the toilet.At all costs.
It is almost impossible to “endure” such urges
Dripping urine
Some urine is always left behind after urinating.“No matter how much you shake your penis, it will end up in your underwear” - popular wisdom.However, a little is 1-2-3 drops of urine, not more.Any visible excess of this norm is quite typical for urinary tract problems in men, but is not always characteristic of prostatitis.
This also includes a completely different symptom - discharge from the urethra.Sometimes they are difficult to distinguish and require additional analysis.Usually, the discharge does not depend on urination, is thicker than urine, can be pale, colored, transparent and cloudy... They require mandatory analysis to determine the cause.It can be a sign of both prostatitis and urethritis, or venereal disease.
Painful
Just like a sore throat, the lower abdomen, perineum, groin, lower back or sacrum also hurts with prostatitis.
Where and how exactly does it hurt?
The pain can also "spread" down to the scrotum, legs, sometimes to the abdomen, across the navel and even higher.What is important for us is the nature of these pains, their connection with other symptoms and with external causes.
When and why do they appear?
Association with lifestyle, sedentary work, ejaculation or abstinence allows you to almost exclude prostatitis or suspect it with high probability.Therefore, ongoing pain independent of these causes can often be a manifestation of a “neurological” cause, such as CPPS, chronic pelvic pain syndrome.But the pain appears after ejaculation for several hours or days.or conversely, it disappears after ejaculation for hours and days - most likely associated with prostatitis.
Duration
any.Duration may depend on the severity of the exacerbation and other comorbidities.For example, depression will cause constant severe pain even with mild prostatitis.A painless form of prostatitis can hide the disease for many years.
That is, one cannot judge the disease and its severity solely by this symptom.
What makes it better or worse?
This is the main thing that worries doctors.
The location, nature, or duration of pain can be very different for the same disease.But the dependence of this condition on ejaculation, sedentary work or walking, excessive stimulation, cooling or spicy foods - helps us to determine quite accurately both the diagnosis as well as the direction of treatment and preventive measures to enable a realistic recovery from chronic prostatitis.
Pain in the heart, back and other organs
The prostate is a small organ in the pelvic region.But its inflammation can affect the entire body.
The first way of influence is intoxication.As with any serious inflammatory condition, such as the flu, the whole body or large parts of the body can be damaged.In the same way, the body can be damaged by prostatitis, with exacerbation of the condition.
The second mechanism of pain in distant areas (head, heart, lower ribs, legs) is neurological.Along the path of the nerves and spine, pain can "spread" to quite distant areas of the body, even forming "secondary" foci of inflammation.For example, in the lumbosacral region.And from there, the pain can "radiate", spreading to the thoracic and cervical spine, to the legs and almost anywhere.
Erection problems
“Officially” erections will not be affected by prostatitis.She has other mechanisms of development that are not directly related to this "second heart" of man.However, in reality, the ability to have an erection is impaired.At least during an exacerbation.There may be several mechanisms - from the direct effect of inflammation in the adjacent organ to the "turning on" of the penis - to an indirect, regulatory mechanism, similar to the weakening, slowing of erection during long-term abstinence in adult men (not, of course, in adolescents).
Fortunately, this erectile dysfunction is treated very well and reliably.Unless there are additional psychological factors.A man with mild prostatitis will experience a slight decrease in erectile function.He began to worry, listen to the penis - and the neurological disorder completely destroyed his erection at the root.This is the third, most serious mechanism of how prostatitis affects erection ability.
Ejaculation disorders
Ejaculation (ejaculation) is the phenomenon of sperm being released and ejaculated from the penis at the end of sexual intercourse.Made by the pelvic floor muscles and prostate.Usually, the symptom is a weakening of this release, a decrease in “firing range” and a shortening of the duration of sexual intercourse.Sometimes, or temporarily - sexual intercourse can be prolonged, the man cannot "cum" in any way.
Sperm ejaculation force
When the muscle weakens, its work and activity also weakens.The composition of semen and sperm changes, and the force of ejaculation also changes.
This is important for three reasons.The first is one of the most accurate signs of prostate damage.Almost all other signs and symptoms can occur in other diseases.But the weakening of the discharge is pathological, especially for prostatitis.
Second reason.Reduced output is a factor in worsening prostate conditions after sex, causing POIS (post-orgasmic discomfort syndrome).
During treatment - men with POIS report their condition worsens after low, ineffective sperm count.And vice versa - they increasingly say that high-quality ejaculation does not cause symptoms of POIS.Not 100%, but very possible.Third, this is probably the main factor why men with prostatitis cannot recover without medical intervention.As soon as the force of ejaculation is normalized, the main mechanism for maintaining men's health will be activated - the "self-cleaning" mechanism of the prostate.
Feeling fuzzy
Instead of a clear orgasm, the man feels like “peeing in boiling water” or “barely feeling anything.”
The intensity of the sensation can fluctuate and is also a fairly accurate indicator of prostate problems or a sign that improvement is beginning.
Color, quantity and consistency of semen
One of the important objective parameters concerns the prostate and prostatitis.Typically, sperm analysis is performed only to determine fertility and chances of conception.However, semen analysis provides a lot of information about the condition of the prostate.Therefore, the color of sperm and semen is often milky white and opaque.Moderate consistency, must have the "stickiness" and elasticity of a drop of filamentous sperm.Characteristic smell, no rotten smell, pus, etc.
Any changes in these parameters require urgent investigation if diagnosis and treatment are not available - for example, where a diagnosis of prostatitis has been made.
Color (bright white, yellowish and greenish) indicates the presence of impurities in the sperm, often of an inflammatory, purulent nature.
Transparency indicates reduced prostate function.And there will almost certainly be few “lecithin granules” in the microscopic analysis, which indicates a decline in the function of this particular organ, although not necessarily due to inflammation.
The amount may vary, and may also fluctuate normally, depending on the rhythm of sexual life.A steady decrease or increase in sperm count causes alarm.Perhaps this is a manifestation of partial "blockage" of the prostatic duct, or simply a decrease in the ability to ejaculate.
Not 100% but a fairly typical symptom of chronic prostatitis.
hemorrhage
Let's consider separately the condition of hemorrhage - an mixing of blood in the sperm.It can be noticed simply by eye, more often by vascular damage, scar tissue inflammation, cancer and finally by trauma.Blood can be bright red or old, dark, venous.In any case, this requires urgent analysis of ejaculation and other tests.
There is also a small amount of blood mixed in the sperm - microhemospermia.Usually occurs during an exacerbation of prostatitis, along with an increase in white blood cell count.Sometimes this option can be handled perfectly by strengthening the body;Many urologists, just in case, give a complex vitamin preparation according to a good regimen, often together with zinc, selenium, etc.
This is similar to bleeding gums.Gums are inflamed and bleed very often.And after the inflammation is eliminated and the gums strengthen, the blood admixture will of course disappear.There is no need to be afraid of this symptom if you know the cause of blood in semen.
Reduced sexual desire
A very important symptom.Officially, it should also not occur with prostatitis.In practice there are usually two mechanisms involved.
The first is poisoning.With any inflammation, from the flu to a sore throat, libido and sex drive can decrease.The body sets its sights on other tasks.
Second, perhaps sexual desire is influenced by something similar to Tarkhanov and Belov's phenomenon.This symptom is not specific, it can also occur, for example, against a background of depression, can appear with any chronic disease and even without it.But combined with other manifestations, we consider this decrease to be important and meaningful.Including the impact on recovery prospects.If this problem is not resolved and the man has reduced sexual desire, it is difficult to talk about curing prostatitis.The decrease will lead to irregular sex life, stagnation in the pelvic area and increased risk of more serious attacks.
Other indirect signs
Weakness, lethargy, sweating
Often, these are simply signs of intoxication.Just like chronic pharyngitis, bronchitis, etc.Usually, such symptoms do not bother you, but even if the exacerbation is mild, the general condition will appear to worsen;There is a clear ratio between the intensity of inflammation and the degree of sweating, weakness, and lethargy.As the condition improves, such symptoms will disappear.The problem is not at all specific to prostatitis.But it helps to assess the intensity of an exacerbation, for example.
Headache and dizziness
Dizziness and migraines may appear immediately after the action or after a day or two.They are “vegetative” reactions that often accompany worsening prostatitis, more commonly in people with a tendency to vascular reactions.Of course it is a non-specific symptom.Possibly for dozens, if not hundreds of other diseases.But we will definitely take it into account.And of course we can remove it during treatment.