Diagnosis of prostatitis in the clinic and at home

Symptoms and signs of inflammation of the prostate gland are not always pronounced, moreover, they can "talk" about other pathologies. Diagnosis of prostatitis allows you to accurately recognize the ailment in a man, to determine the shape, type and etiology of inflammation.

How to identify prostatitis in men: methods available in the clinic

Any occurrence of discomfort, itching, burning in the lower part, violation of urination is a reason to go to the urologist to clarify the diagnosis and obtain an individual treatment regimen. In the process, you will have to go through a number of activities that provide the most accurate diagnosis.

Taking anamnesis

Identification of any disease always begins with the collection of anamnesis. The urologist asks questions and asks the patient to describe the external signs that brought him to the hospital.

The dialogue may concern the following topics:

• Duration of feeling unwell;
• First appearance of symptoms, probable cause of their occurrence, development of symptoms;
• Are there venereal diseases;
• Physical activity level, general lifestyle;
• Transfer of inflammation of the prostate gland earlier;
• Features of sexual life;
• Diseases that a man's sexual partner has suffered;
• Chronic illness of the patient himself.

Based on the answers, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis, for confirmation of which additional examinations should be performed.

Analyzes

Disruption of the prostate gland affects the activity of the entire genitourinary system. Accordingly, many measures are required, which include the diagnosis of prostatitis. Tests are the first and main step towards recovery.

If an inflammation of the prostate gland is suspected, the following complex is prescribed:

• Complete blood count - informs about inflammation or its absence;
• A blood test for hormones - as a result, the current hormonal background is found out;
• A blood test for tumor markers (including PSA) - indicated in cases of suspicion of a tumor, allows you to determine its nature;
• General urine analysis - reflects the amount of protein that is absent in the urine of healthy people;
• Bakseeding - makes it possible to determine the activity of pathogenic microorganisms, confirms or refutes the bacterial nature of the disease;
• Analysis for blood cytology - provides information about pathological cancer cells (if any);
• Spermogram - helps to assess the presence of inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive system and find out how much fertility has suffered;
• A swab from the urethra is an unpleasant procedure for a man, it is necessary to clarify the state of microflora and the presence of microorganisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases.

IMPORTANT: it is not necessary to take each of the tests. The choice (must be made by the doctor: urologist or andrologist) depends on the specific situation and individual characteristics of the patient.

Rectal examination

Suspected inflammation of the prostate is an indication for rectal diagnosis. Before the manipulation, a micro enema is placed to cleanse the intestines.

In the process, the doctor determines:

• Size of the glandular organ and its parts;
• Potential soreness;
• Puffiness;
• The presence of seals.

Sometimes pain can radiate to the genitals, tailbone or groin.

Study of prostate secretion

Additionally, it is necessary to obtain a sample of the prostatic secretion, which is released when the glandular organ is stimulated. In acute inflammation, rectal examination is painful but necessary.

The biomaterial is applied to laboratory glass and sent for research to obtain information about the features of the course of prostatitis. The samples are stained and examined under a microscope at high magnification. This helps to determine the number of leukocytes and lecithin grains.

Healthy men have a lot of lecithin grains, and leukocytes do not exceed 10 units, more often 4-6. With a protracted illness, the picture changes. The grains practically disappear from the field of view, but the leukocytes go beyond the reference values.

The study of prostate secretion is a method used in combination with others, since the change in indicators is not 100% indicative of prostatitis, but obtaining results indicating that the patient is healthy, on the contrary, is sometimes caused by the peculiarities of the location of inflammatory foci or closure of the ducts .

Urodynamic examination

Assigned when:

• High residual urine volume after emptying;
• Reduced flow rate;
• Obstructive urination.

The method helps to identify problems with the functioning of the bladder and assess the degree of urethral patency. This method is also used in combination, as it helps to obtain additional information about urinary disorders, but does not accurately localize the place of dysfunction.

Ultrasound diagnostics

An obligatory step on the way of diagnosing prostatitis is ultrasound or TRUS diagnostics. The ultrasound examination procedure helps to identify:

• Density and structure of the glandular organ;
• Prostate size;
• Possible neoplasms.

There are several ways of conducting:

• Outside (through the perineum or peritoneal wall);
• Probe insertion through the urethra;
• Examination through the rectum.

Transrectal ultrasound is one of the most informative methods and is performed using a small probe inserted into the rectum. This form provides the definition of suppurations and abscesses, a complete check of the condition of the testes and the intestinal tract. IMPORTANT: rectal administration is excluded for cracks in the anus, rash or hemorrhoids.

Ultrasound diagnostics is indicated in the following cases:

• In acute bacterial infection to exclude abscesses or to find out the reasons for the ineffectiveness of antibiotic therapy;
• Pathological changes in the structure of the organ;
• Suspected malignancy after palpation of the gland;
• To exclude prostate stones;
• Painful ejaculation - to clarify the presence or absence of cysts and obstruction in the seminal ducts.

Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy is a method that helps to examine in detail the glandular organ, bladder and urethra from the inside. It is carried out by introducing a probe equipped with a camera into the canal. Thus, the doctor examines the state of internal organs using the image on the screen.

If there are appropriate indications, a biopsy is combined with cystoscopy - the collection of tissue samples. When diagnosed with prostatitis, this procedure is not mandatory, and is only necessary if there are elevated parameters in the test results for PSA (prostate-specific antigen).

Biopsy

During cystoscopy, a piece of tissue cells is often taken by puncturing the rectum or perineum with a needle and given for a biopsy.

Possibly 2 types of laboratory tests:

• Cytological - effective for early diagnosis of tumors;
• Histological - required for a diagnosed neoplasm (to determine the number of cells and their benignity / malignancy).

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most accurate research methods today. It is important to know that this procedure is excluded if there are metal structures inside the body, as well as tattoos made with paints containing metal particles. All metal objects must be removed before the procedure.

During the examination it is possible:

• Determine the content of the prostate;
• Learn more about the condition of the testes and lymph nodes;
• Identify abscesses, inflammation, benign and malignant tissue overgrowth.

The accuracy of the procedure helps to identify serious illnesses at an early stage, which increases the chance of recovery. Additionally, the following diagnostic methods can be prescribed to increase the information content of the study:

• Coil procedure. It consists in the introduction into the anal passage of the wire, protected by a latex sheath. The subtlety and flexibility of the device helps to bring it as close as possible to the prostate gland. Despite the discomfort from this type of MRI, the effectiveness of the study increases significantly;
• Injection of contrast medium. It enters the body after intravenous injection (or oral consumption) and provides a visual separation of healthy and diseased tissues, which are clearly visible on a tomograph;
• Simultaneous carrying out of the spectrogram. Allows you to determine the structure of prostatic tissues as accurately as possible.

Also, in some cases, CT (computed tomography), or PET / CT (positron emission computed tomography) of the prostate is prescribed, however, in the absence of suspicions of the presence of neoplasms, their use is impractical, since it is possible to determine "prostatitis" using other tests and techniques.

Diagnosis of prostatitis at home

Self-determination of prostatitis does not relate to an accurate diagnosis, and only suggests the presence of a disease in a man.

If you find any suspicious symptoms, you need to immediately contact the clinic for a professional complex of research.

Online test

Online testing is a pretty effective way to find out if you should see a doctor right away. The questionnaire-questionnaire consists of 4 blocks:

• Soreness and discomfort;
• Symptoms when urinating;
• Sexual quality;
• Effects of signs on daily activities.

According to the results, the number of points is calculated. They are divided into 3 groups: satisfactory condition, moderate and severe. If you fall into the "average" category for at least one block, you should schedule a visit to the urologist as soon as possible.

Chronic prostatitis may be asymptomatic or the signs are blurred, respectively, a specialized test has been developed to identify precisely the sluggish form of the disease.

It consists of 15 questions and involves the choice of one of several answers, or the assessment of a symptom on a scale. After filling in all the columns, the results are processed automatically, the man is provided with information about the likelihood of having a disease. Accordingly, if there is even a slight possibility that you are suffering from an ailment, it is recommended to get a consultation with a specialist as soon as possible.

More options

Primary diagnosis of prostatitis in men can be done at home. First of all, this is an attentive attitude to one's own state of health and the allocation of disturbing symptoms.

Signs on the basis of which you should make an appointment with a urologist:

• Frequent urge to empty the bladder;
• Pain while urinating;
• The need to push to separate urine;
• Weak, intermittent jet;
• Feeling full bladder even after going to the toilet;
• Difficulty getting an erection;
• Emotional decrease in libido;
• Inability to conceive a child;
• Premature ejaculation;
• Discomfort during ejaculation;
• Soreness in the tailbone, perineum or groin area;
• Increased pain syndrome during the act of defecation.

In addition, in the presence of a bacterial infection, an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees is likely, the pain syndrome is expressed clearly. Stagnant prostatitis can be suggested by a feeling of pressure in the intestines and especially frequent urge to urinate during sleep.

There is another way to determine the inflammatory process in the prostate gland on your own:

• Prepare 3 sterile jars;
• Pee in each one in turn, without stopping;
• The presence of turbidity in the first and third containers is highly likely to inform about prostatitis;
• Cloudy urine in the first jar indicates an infectious inflammation in the urethral canal;
• Completely pure urine speaks for the health of the genitourinary system.

Inflammation of the prostate gland is a serious disease, self-diagnosis is only the first step towards identifying the disease. Any of the listed symptoms is a signal to visit a doctor and undergo clinical trials. Without timely drug treatment, prostatitis worsens, provokes complications and poses a threat to the health of men as a whole.