Any healthy man can develop prostatitis;no one is immune to this.Even astronauts and athletes with an ideal lifestyle are in the “risk zone”.Knowing the symptoms will help you detect prostatitis in time and start treatment.
Urinary disorders
The urethra, urethra, passes through the prostate.One of its functions is to control the flow of urine by opening and closing the bladder outlet.Therefore, when the prostate is irritated or inflamed, problems urinating often begin.
Increase or decrease in desire
The symptom of prostatitis is precisely the increase in the frequency of fissures with a decrease in the amount of urine per portion.Just an increase in the frequency of cravings with the same portion and volume can be the norm (I just started drinking more fluids) or a sign of a disease such as diabetes - diabetes mellitus or sugar-free diabetes.That is, the total amount of urine per day increases sharply, and therefore the person runs to the bathroom more often.Typically this happens, for example, when eating watermelons.Portions of urine are large or huge.
But when the same amount of urine comes out in one day, but is distributed over 10 to 30 trips to the toilet - the size of each portion, of course, becomes several 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 can be quite constant or can vary.If the irritant temporarily weakens the effect, for example when the inflammation subsides.In the case of chronic prostatitis, this does not indicate recovery, but rather an improvement in the condition.This is important in a diagnostic sense
Weakening of the urine stream
A weak flow of urine is an important symptom characteristic of a prostate problem.It is usually caused by two main diseases.Adenoma (hyperplasia) of the prostate and prostatitis.It's easy to distinguish them.Adenoma, as a rule, appears in the elderly, and prostatitis - more often in young, active men.In any case, this is a symptom that requires examination of the prostate and not other organs.Exceptions are rare (stones, urethral stricture).
The dependence of the force of the urine stream on the effect on the gland is specific.From ejaculation, sexual intercourse or lack thereof.From walking or sitting for a long time.From violating the diet or following it.
Unpleasant sensations
Very characteristic is not only the increased frequency of cravings, but also discomfort when urinating.When eating watermelon, for example, you may run to the bathroom every 10-15 minutes, but the sensation is quite pleasant and satisfying.But prostatitis will give you a very unpleasant and “imperative” urge to go to the bathroom.This brings relief - but for a rather short period.At night, the urge appears more frequently and is usually more unpleasant.This can interfere with sleep and is usually one of the main complaints.
Urine portion sizes
The size of urine portions decreases.This is due to both the irritating effect of prostate inflammation and the increased sensitivity of the urinary tract in case of inflammation.Hypersensitivity - it gives the feeling that a lot of urine has already accumulated in the bladder, “half a bucket” - but in fact it is literally 30-100 ml.
Portion sizes may vary.With more liquid, urinary tract irritation decreases as the urine becomes more dilute.It turns out to be a paradox - a person drinks more fluids, but goes to the bathroom less often, due to increased portions.
Acute and urgent desires
Imperative (acute) impulses - more common during an exacerbation or with age.They can force a man to refuse trips or go his own way “from bathroom to bathroom”.In advanced cases, this leads to the man needing to wear a diaper.On the one hand, urine flows weaker and, on the other hand, when you feel like it, you have to go to the bathroom.At any cost.
It is almost impossible to “bear” such a desire
Dripping urine
Some urine always remains after urination.“No matter how much you shake your penis, the last one will be in your panties” - popular wisdom.However, a little is 1-2-3 drops of urine, no more.Any visible excess of this norm is quite typical for a urinary tract problem in a man, 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 additional analysis is required.Most often, discharge does not depend on urination, it is thicker than urine, it can be clear, colored, transparent and cloudy... They require mandatory analysis to identify the cause.It may be a sign of prostatitis and urethritis or a venereal disease.
Pain
Just as a sore throat hurts with a sore throat, the lower abdomen, perineum, groin, lower back or sacrum also hurt with prostatitis.
Where and how exactly does it hurt?
The pain can also “radiate” to the scrotum, legs, sometimes to the abdomen, up to the navel and even higher.What is important to us is the nature of these pains, their connection with other symptoms and external causes.
When and why do they appear
A connection with lifestyle, sedentary work, ejaculation or abstinence makes it possible to practically exclude prostatitis or suspect it with a high probability.Thus, constant pain that does not depend on these causes may more often be a manifestation of a “neurological” cause, such as CPPS, chronic pelvic pain syndrome.But the pain that appears after ejaculation lasts for several hours or days.or, on the contrary, disappears after ejaculation for hours and days - it is most likely associated with prostatitis.
Duration
Any.The duration may depend on the severity of the exacerbation and other concomitant diseases.For example, depression will cause unbearable and constant pain, even with mild prostatitis.A painless form of prostatitis can mask the disease, possibly for many years.
In other words, the disease and its severity cannot be judged solely by this symptom.
What makes it better or worse?
This is the main thing that worries the doctor.
The location, nature or duration of pain can be very different for the same disease.But the dependence of the picture on ejaculation, sedentary work or walking, overexcitation, cooling or spicy food - helps us quite accurately to determine both the diagnosis itself and the direction of treatment and preventive measures that will allow a practical recovery from chronic prostatitis.
Pain in the heart, back and other organs
The prostate is a small organ in the pelvis.But your inflammation can affect your entire body.
The first form of influence is intoxication.As with any serious inflammation, such as the flu, all or most of the body may ache.In the same way, the body can hurt with prostatitis, with its exacerbation.
The second mechanism of pain in distant areas (head, heart, hypochondrium, legs) is neurological.Along the nerves and spine, pain can “radiate” to very distant areas of the body and even form “secondary” foci of inflammation.For example, in the lumbosacral region.And from there the pain can “radiate”, radiating to the thoracic and cervical spine, to the legs and almost anywhere.
Erection problems
“Officially” an erection should not be affected by prostate inflammation.It has other development mechanisms that are not directly related to this “second heart” of man.However, in practice, the erection is impaired.At least during an exacerbation.There may be several mechanisms - from the direct effect of inflammation of a nearby organ on the “connection” of the penis - to an indirect regulatory mechanism, similar to the weakening and slowing of erection during prolonged abstinence in adult men (not in teenagers, of course).
Fortunately, this erectile dysfunction is treated very well and reliably.Unless a psychological factor is added.A man with mild prostatitis has a slight decrease in erectile function.He begins to worry, listen to the penis - and the neurosis destroys his erection completely in the bud.This is the third and most serious mechanism of influence of prostatitis on erection.
Ejaculation disorders
Ejaculation (ejaculation) is the release of sperm, ejaculated from the penis at the end of sexual intercourse.Performed by the muscles of the pelvic floor and prostate.More often, the symptom is a weakening of this release, a decrease in “firing range” and a shortening of sexual intercourse.Sometimes, or temporarily - there may be a prolongation of sexual intercourse, the man cannot “come” in any way.
Sperm ejection force
When a muscle weakens, its work and action weaken.The composition of the ejaculate and sperm changes, and the ejection force also changes.
This is important for three reasons.The first is one of the most accurate signs of prostate damage.Almost all other manifestations and symptoms can occur in other diseases.But the weakening of secretion is pathognomonic, specific to prostatitis.
Second reason.Decreased production is a factor that worsens the state of the prostate after sex, which causes POIS (post-orgasm malaise syndrome).
During treatment - men with POIS report worsening of their condition following weak and ineffective sperm production.And vice versa - they are increasingly saying that high-quality ejaculation does not cause POIS symptoms.Not 100%, but very likely.Third, this is probably the main factor that prevents a man with prostatitis from being cured without medical procedures.As soon as the sperm release force is normalized, the main mechanism for maintaining male health is activated - the “self-cleaning” of the prostate gland.
Blurred sensations
Instead of a vivid orgasm, the man feels something like “peeing in boiling water” or “he felt almost nothing”.
The strength of the sensations can vary and also serves as a fairly accurate sign of prostate problems or that improvement is beginning.
Color, quantity and consistency of ejaculate
One of the important objective parameters related to the prostate and prostatitis.Often, sperm analysis is performed solely to determine fertility and chances of conception.However, semen analysis provides a lot of information about the condition of the prostate.Thus, the color of sperm and ejaculate is normally milky white, cloudy.The consistency is medium-thick, there must be “adhesion”, the elasticity of a drop of sperm in the form of a thread.The smell is specific, without any admixture of the smell of rot, pus and so on.
Any change in these parameters requires urgent examination, if there is still no diagnosis, and treatment - for example, when the diagnosis of prostatitis is already available.
The color (bright white, yellowish and greenish) indicates the presence of an impurity in the sperm, often of an inflammatory and purulent nature.
Transparency indicates decreased prostate function.And there will almost certainly be few “lecithin grains” in the microscopic analysis, which indicates a decrease in the function of this specific organ, although not necessarily due to inflammation.
The amount may be different, it may also fluctuate normally, depending on the rhythm of your sex life.A stable decrease or increase in the number of sperm causes alarm.Perhaps this is a manifestation of “blockage” of part of the prostate tubules or simply a decrease in ejaculate production.
Not 100%, but a very characteristic symptom of chronic prostatitis.
Hemospermia
Let us separately consider hemospermia - an admixture of blood in sperm.It can be noticeable simply with the naked eye, more often with damage to blood vessels, with calculitis, with cancer and, finally, with trauma.The blood may be bright scarlet or old, dark and venous.In any case, this requires an urgent analysis of the ejaculate and other tests.
There is also an admixture of a small amount of blood in the ejaculate - microhemospermia.It often occurs during an exacerbation of prostatitis along with an increase in the number of leukocytes.Sometimes this option can be perfectly treated by fortifying the body;many urologists, just in case, give a complex vitamin preparation in a good course, usually together with zinc, selenium and so on.
This is analogous to bleeding gums.Loose and inflamed gums bleed very frequently.And after the inflammation is eliminated and the gums are strengthened, the blood admixture, of course, disappears.There is no need to be afraid of this symptom if the reason for the appearance of blood in the semen is known.
Decreased libido
A very important symptom.Officially, it should not appear in prostatitis either.In practice, there are generally two mechanisms involved.
The first is intoxication.With any inflammation, from the flu to a sore throat, libido and sex drive can decrease.The body focuses on other tasks.
Secondly, perhaps libido is influenced by something similar to the Tarkhanov and Belov phenomena.The symptom is non-specific and can also occur, for example, with depression, which can occur with any chronic illness and even without it.But in combination with other manifestations, we consider this decrease to be important and significant.Including to influence recovery prospects.If this problem is not resolved and the man has a reduced libido, it is difficult to talk about curing prostatitis.A decrease will lead to irregular sex life, pelvic stagnation and an increased risk of exacerbations.
Other indirect signs
Weakness, lethargy, sweating
Most often, these are simply manifestations of intoxication.Just like with chronic sore throat, bronchitis and so on.Normally, these symptoms are not bothersome, but even with a slight exacerbation, a deterioration in the general condition appears;There is a very clear proportionality between the intensity of inflammation and the degree of sweating, weakness and apathy.As the condition improves, these symptoms disappear.The problem is not specific to prostatitis.But it helps to assess the strength of the exacerbation, for example.
Headaches and dizziness
Dizziness and migraines may appear immediately after the act or after a day or two.These are “vegetative” reactions that usually accompany the exacerbation of prostatitis, more frequently in people prone to vascular reactions.A nonspecific symptom, of course.Perhaps for dozens, if not hundreds of other diseases.But we will certainly take this into consideration.And of course, we can remove it during treatment.