Prostatitis

15 November 2026

Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate gland (prostate), which develops as a result of inflammatory changes.According to statistics, the incidence of the disease reaches 35-50%, and it is detected in men aged 20-40.

Species

There are 4 forms of prostatitis:

acute (bacterial);
chronic bacterial;
chronic non-bacterial;
asymptomatic chronic.

Acute prostatitis is very rare due to the rapid course of the inflammatory process and the immediate transition to the chronic stage (false improvement).

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be inflammatory (with increased leukocyte content in urine and ejaculate) and non-inflammatory.

Reasons

Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis is caused by pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi).The most common sources of inflammation are:

coli;
streptococci;
staphylococci;
Proteus;
Klebsiella;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonococci, trichomonas, cytomegalovirus and others).

Most microorganisms are found in the intestines and on the skin, but when they get into the prostate tissue, they cause an inflammatory process.The cause of the disease is usually not a single pathogen, but an association of several microbes.

The development of chronic prostatitis can be triggered by the following factors:

simultaneous diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
sedentary lifestyle ("sedentary" work);
tendency to constipation;
weakening of the body's defenses;
injuries;
hormonal imbalance;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
promiscuity;
irregular sex life (long-term abstinence);
interrupted sexual intercourse;
irregular bladder emptying;
unsatisfied sexual desire;
chronic stress;
hypothermia;
the presence of decayed teeth and other sources of chronic infection (for example, chronic tonsillitis).

Symptoms of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is a very insidious disease.It is quite difficult to "catch" it, since on the one hand, the process becomes chronic very quickly, and on the other hand, most patients prefer to "sit out" the manifestations of acute prostatitis at home.Patients suffering from prostatitis often consult a doctor in advanced cases with erectile dysfunction and other consequences.

The acute form of the disease occurs against the background of:

elevated temperature;
chills;
other signs of poisoning (weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.).

Inflammation of the prostate causes pain in the perineum, groin and scrotum.

Painful and frequent urination is also characteristic.Sometimes a whitish purulent discharge can be seen in the urine.

In addition, the patient may notice the absence of night and morning erections, poor-quality erections during intimacy, and a sharp shortening of sexual intercourse.

The typical symptoms of urinary tract disorders appear: weak urine flow and frequent urges, although little urine is produced.

After that, in the absence of treatment, chronic prostatitis reaches its peak: disorders of sexual function appear.For example:

insufficient erection or its absence;
painful erections, due to which the patient avoids sexual intercourse;
cancellation of orgasm;
brief sexual intercourse;
painful ejaculation.

Chronic abacterial prostatitis accounts for 95% of all prostatitis;it mainly affects men in their 30s.It is characterized by constant or intermittent pain in the pelvic area, prostate and scrotum, without signs of inflammation during laboratory tests.The causes of the disease have not been precisely determined.

Diagnostics

During the diagnosis of acute and chronic prostatitis, in addition to collecting complaints, anamnesis and examining the patient, the following methods are used:

general blood and urine analysis;
microscopic examination of the prostate secretion and its inoculation on culture medium to identify the pathogen (the secretion is obtained after digital massage of the prostate gland through the rectum);
cytological examination of urine;
Ultrasound of the prostate and pelvic organs;
computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
smear from the urethra to detect microflora.

The purpose of the differential diagnosis is to distinguish the signs of prostatitis, prostate adenoma, prostate cancer and prostate stones.

A complete list of diagnostic procedures and medications for the treatment of prostatitis can be found in the 2012 federal standard of care.

Treatment of prostatitis

The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not progress according to the textbook.Do not try to treat yourself - consult a doctor.Prostatitis is treated by a urologist.

Etiotropic treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of prostatitis aims to eliminate the pathogen.Depending on the identified cause, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal agents are prescribed.The duration of therapy for acute prostatitis is 7-10 days, in the case of a chronic process - 4-8 weeks.

The following are used to treat a bacterial infection: