Prostatitis

15 November 2026

Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate (prostate gland) caused by inflammatory changes in it.According to statistics, the prevalence of the disease is 35-50% and occurs in men aged 20-40 years.

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 nonbacterial prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be inflammatory in nature (with an increased leukocyte content in urine and ejaculate) and non-inflammatory in nature.

Reasons

The cause of acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are 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.However, when they enter the prostate tissue, they cause an inflammatory process.The disease is usually not triggered by a single pathogen, but rather by a combination of several types of microbes.

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

Concomitant 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 infections (e.g. chronic tonsillitis).

Symptoms of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is a very insidious disease.It is quite difficult to “catch” it, since, firstly, the process very quickly becomes chronic, and secondly, most patients prefer to “ride out” the manifestations of acute prostatitis at home.Patients with prostate inflammation often consult a doctor in advanced cases with erectile dysfunction and other consequences.

The acute form of the disease occurs against the background:

increased temperature;
Chills;
other symptoms of intoxication (weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.).

Inflammation of the prostate is accompanied by pain in the perineum, groin and scrotum.

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

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

Typical symptoms of a urinary tract disorder are a weak urinary stream and a frequent urge to urinate, even though little urine is produced.

Subsequently, without treatment, chronic prostatitis reaches its peak: sexual function disorders occur.For example:

inadequate erection or lack thereof;
painful erections, due to which the patient avoids sexual intercourse;
extinction of orgasm;
short sexual intercourse;
painful ejaculation.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis accounts for 95% of all prostatitis;It mainly affects men around the age of 30.It is characterized by constant or periodic pain in the pelvic area, prostate and scrotum, with no signs of inflammation seen in laboratory tests.The causes of the disease are not exactly clear.

diagnosis

When diagnosing acute and chronic prostatitis, in addition to collecting complaints, taking 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 a nutrient medium to identify the pathogen (the secretion is obtained after digital massage of the prostate through the rectum);
cytological examination of urine;
Ultrasound of the prostate and pelvic organs;
Computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI);
Smear from the urethra for microflora.

Differential diagnosis aims to distinguish between prostatitis, prostate adenoma, prostate cancer and signs of stones in the prostate.

For a complete list of diagnostic procedures and medications used to treat prostatitis, see the 2012 Federal Standard of Care.

Treatment of prostatitis

The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.Do not try to self-medicate, but consult a doctor.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out by a urologist.

The aim of etiotropic treatment to eliminate the cause of prostatitis is to eliminate the pathogen.Depending on the identified cause, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal medications are prescribed.The duration of therapy for acute prostatitis is 7-10 days, for a chronic process it is 4-8 weeks.

To treat a bacterial infection are used: