Gaby
Prostatitis affects a large share of men: about 30% of men over 30, 40% of men over 40, 50% of men over 50, and 75% of men over 70. Doctors highlight warning signs that indicate it’s time to see a specialist.
What is Prostatitis?
This condition involves the prostate gland: it shows up as inflammation and swelling of the prostate—the muscular gland that surrounds the seminal ducts and urethra. An inflamed prostate enlarges, compresses the urethra, and makes urination difficult. And those urinary problems are just the start.
The prostate contributes not only to normal urination but also to reproductive function. It produces a major component of semen; its secretions help sperm motility and support normal sexual function. Prostatitis changes the makeup of prostatic secretions, can harm sexual function, and increases the body’s vulnerability to infection.
Causes of Prostatitis
The most common triggers for this intimate ailment are infections—not only sexually transmitted ones. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, or even dental cavities can raise the risk. Conditions that slow blood flow in the pelvic organs also contribute, a problem common among office workers and drivers.
Possible causes of prostatitis include:
- a sedentary lifestyle;
- a tendency toward constipation;
- tight underwear;
- lack of sexual activity;
- poor and irregular diet;
- exposure to cold;
- poor environmental conditions;
- chronic stress and nervous strain;
- physical overexertion;
- sleep deprivation and other factors that weaken the immune system.
Depending on the trigger, prostatitis can be infectious or noninfectious, bacterial or viral, mixed, or specific. It can be caused by microorganisms (such as mycoplasmas or ureaplasmas) and by stagnant conditions such as disruptions in venous circulation, impaired movement of prostatic secretions, or reduced ejaculation.
Symptoms of Prostatitis
During the acute phase, patients report fever, general malaise, pain in the perineum and lower back, burning in the urethra, frequent and painful urination, pain during sex, and problems with erections and orgasms, or excessive arousal and rapid ejaculation.
Chronic prostatitis, the most common form, can go unnoticed for months or even years and then flare up periodically. Difficulties with erections can lead to personality changes, turning a confident man into an irritable one. In advanced cases, the condition can progress to erectile dysfunction and depression.
Consequences of Prostatitis
The condition tends to progress. If left untreated, prostatitis can contribute to infertility (about 40% of chronic prostatitis patients are at risk) and to erectile dysfunction, which may arise from hormonal changes and from psychological factors.
More severe complications include the development of cysts, formation of stones in the prostate, or prostate sclerosis, in which the gland shrinks and loses function. Prostatitis can also be a factor in the development of benign tumors (adenomas) that may require surgical removal. An untreated adenoma can, in some cases, become malignant.
Start Treatment
Prostatitis is treated by a urologist or an andrologist. The doctor will need the following:
- results from a digital rectal examination;
- analysis of prostatic secretions;
- urine and prostatic secretion cultures for antibiotic sensitivity;
- an ultrasound of the prostate.
Recently, specialized devices have appeared on the market that affect the prostate through vibration, vacuum, temperature, or various wavelengths of light.
Physiotherapeutic methods can help treat prostatitis quickly:
- reflex therapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- magneto-laser inductotherapy;
- leech therapy;
- heat treatments.
Along with accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment, an andrologist should work with a sexologist and a psychotherapist to address psychological and sexual issues. Lifestyle recommendations can help prevent future flare-ups.
Prostatitis Prevention
Zinc supports testosterone production and male hormonal health; pumpkin seeds contain therapeutic amounts of zinc. Onions can act as a cheap, traditional “folk” antibiotic to help prevent infections. Eat half an onion at night. Chop 100 grams of onion, place it in a bottle of dry white wine, steep in a cool place for 10 days, strain, and take 2 tablespoons before meals.
Prevent prostatitis by maintaining immune health, treating infections promptly, having regular sexual activity, wearing comfortable clothing, staying active, and eating a balanced diet. Exercise and sports help prevent blood stagnation. Workouts and walking stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and reduce the risk of prostate inflammation. Prevent constipation. Keep digestion active: drink plenty of fluids and use dietary fiber or mild laxatives if needed to avoid straining the prostate.
Try self-massage of the perineum. Apply a small amount of castor or sesame oil to the area between the anus and the testicles and rub gently in circular motions. Take a warm bath to help relieve symptoms. Use a strong chamomile decoction as a warm compress to ease pain and discomfort. Try contrast showers: alternate warm and cold water directed to the prostate area, keeping the water pressure gentle.
Home Treatment for Prostatitis
Self-help measures include juice and herbal therapy. Folk remedies do not contradict comprehensive treatment prescribed by a urologist or an andrologist.
Juices
One possible factor in prostate problems is excess uric acid in the muscles from a high intake of animal protein. In such cases, a combination of carrot, beet, cucumber, and asparagus juices may help. To see noticeable results, drink 500 ml of asparagus juice daily.
Start the morning with a glass of water on an empty stomach. Half an hour later, drink a tablespoon of elderberry juice (it keeps better if you add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to a half-liter bottle). Continue the course for at least 10 days.
Propolis
This powerful anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent is often used in comprehensive therapy for chronic prostatitis. To prepare an extract, dissolve 40 grams of propolis in 200 ml of pure alcohol. Mix 0.1 grams of the propolis extract with 2 grams of cocoa butter. Form a suppository from this mixture and insert it into the rectum at night. Continue the treatment for one month. Then take a break for 4–6 weeks and repeat the course.
Herbs
Mix one teaspoon each of celandine and hemlock (use caution—the latter is toxic) with 100 grams of alcohol. Steep in a closed dark container for 10 days and strain. Drink the infusion before breakfast following this schedule: add one drop to a cup of water or milk on day one, increase by one drop each day up to day 30, then decrease back to one drop by day 60.
Parsley
Parsley can reduce inflammation and help restore sexual function. Do not overdo parsley juice: take one tablespoon three times a day before meals.
Pour a couple of tablespoons of crushed parsley seeds with a cup of boiling water, simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, and cool. Strain and drink one tablespoon of the decoction three times a day.
Chestnuts
Chop the skins of three ripe chestnuts, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over them and steep overnight. In the morning, strain the infusion and reduce it in a water bath to 200 grams. Store it in the refrigerator and take one tablespoon three times a day before meals. Repeat the course three times.
Poplar
Collect flowering poplar bark before the buds open and before the sap starts to flow. Dry the bark, chop 100 grams, place it in a half-liter jar, pour in 200 grams of vodka, seal, and keep in a dark place for two weeks. Strain the infusion and take it three times a day before meals (20 drops in a quarter glass of water). With daily use, the infusion will last several months—this constitutes the treatment course.
Hazel
Treat prostatitis with the bark and leaves of hazelnut, brewing one tablespoon of the medicinal material per cup of boiling water, alternating bark and leaves. After straining, take a quarter cup three times a day. Some people feel relief within a week.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin seeds have a long history of use for prostate health. Consume about 30 seeds daily before meals to get a useful dose of zinc. Alternatively, grind 500 grams of raw pumpkin seeds, mix with 200 grams of honey, form balls the size of a hazelnut, and store them in the refrigerator. Eat one ball half an hour before meals twice a day. One course per year is usually sufficient.
Consult your doctor before choosing folk remedies. Medical professionals consider self-treatment unacceptable, but everyone should know how to alleviate symptoms during flare-ups.
