Cystitis is a disease accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane and walls of the bladder. This disease leads to a gradual disruption of the functions of the organ. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to this pathology than male patients. According to official data, cystitis is diagnosed in 0. 8% of men who have crossed the forty-year mark.
The relatively low prevalence of cystitis in male patients is due to the structural features of the urethra. In men it is longer than in women. Therefore, it is much more difficult for infection to enter the bladder.
In most cases, the pathology develops against the background of bladder outlet obstruction. It involves subvesical compression of the bladder, which becomes an obstacle to the free passage of urine.
Causes of cystitis
To reduce the risk of cystitis in men under 40 years of age, you must carefully follow the rules of intimate hygiene. After reaching this age, the urinary system of the stronger sex is more susceptible to the development of various pathologies that can lead to damage to the walls and mucous membrane of the bladder.
Cystitis in men is a consequence of the inflammatory process in the area of the prostate gland, testicles, and urethra. There are other causes of this disease:
Urological problems that provoke urine retention in the body (too narrow urethra).
Prostate adenoma.
Diverticular disease.
Infectious diseases that are transmitted through intimate intimacy. These include gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Prostatitis, inflammation of the urethra, vesiculitis. The listed diseases can cause pathological changes in the functioning of the bladder.
The presence of a mechanical barrier (in particular, the formation of stone).
Performed urological surgery in the recent past.
Malignant neoplasm in the urethra or prostate gland.
Infections localized in the upper respiratory tract. If a patient falls ill with ARVI or tonsillitis, bacteria may penetrate through the systemic bloodstream into the organs of the genitourinary system. Thus, cystitis can be a consequence of any infection (regardless of its location).
In some cases, the disease develops due to pyelonephritis or kidney tuberculosis. The latter usually occurs without pronounced symptoms and is accompanied by fatigue, weakness, and a slight increase in body temperature.
About 90% of the world's inhabitants are carriers of the infection. Many people have reduced immunity due to frequent drinking of alcohol, prolonged stress, consumption of unhealthy foods, and prolonged smoking. Due to the above factors, a transition from the latent phase of bacterial activity to the active phase occurs. As a result, damage occurs not only to the lungs, but also to other organs:
prostate gland;
testicles;
kidney
In some situations, when cultured with Koch's bacillus, a false negative result is obtained. An infectious disease disguises itself as another pathology (no less serious). This leads to failure to prescribe proper treatment in time.
There are other factors that provoke a decrease in immunity: increased blood sugar, hypothermia, chronic lack of sleep, injuries in the spinal column.
Signs of cystitis in men
In the acute phase of the disease, a man needs to empty his bladder frequently. In this case, when visiting the toilet, a very small amount of urine may be released.
Sharp pain may occur when emptying the bladder. As a rule, pain occurs at the beginning and at the end of urination. Their expression can vary. Pain sensations can be either tolerable or intense. In the intervals between visits to the toilet, men experience discomfort in the penis, pubic area, and groin area.
With cystitis, body temperature often rises. General signs of intoxication may occur. The man feels a constant lack of strength and complains of headaches. If such symptoms appear, treatment in a hospital is recommended.
Sometimes the disease is severe, and gangrenous and hemorrhagic cystitis may occur. The urine produced is cloudy. You can see mucous or bloody inclusions in it, and it has a putrid, unpleasant odor. At the same time, the amount of fluid secreted by the body throughout the day is reduced to 0. 3 liters.
As the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes less intense. There is no longer any bloody impurities in the urine, but mucous inclusions may still be present in it. In addition, the transition of chronic cystitis to the acute stage is possible at any time.
The causes of the disease may be:
non-infectious;
infectious.
There are several ways of bladder infection:
Rising.In this case, infection penetrates from the external environment into the bladder.
Descending.The infection enters the bladder from other organs (in particular, the kidneys).
Lymphogenic.In this case, infection of the bladder through the lymphatic vessels is observed.
Hematogenous.If there is a purulent focus in the body, the infection can spread from this problem area through the bloodstream. It subsequently enters the bladder.
It is worth mentioning the non-infectious causes of pathology:
an allergic reaction leading to an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the bladder;
deterioration of the functions of the nervous or immune systems;
chemical burn – due to a medical worker’s error, the patient may be given the wrong medication that was prescribed by the doctor;
attending radiation therapy sessions that involve exposure to the pubic area.
Diagnosis of the disease
If you detect at least a few symptoms of cystitis, you should not postpone a visit to the urologist. After a thorough examination, the specialist will prescribe comprehensive treatment.
In order to establish an accurate diagnosis, a man is recommended to undergo the following diagnostic procedures:
Urogenital smear.This procedure is intended to diagnose hidden infections that are transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Bacterial culture.This analysis is needed to establish the type of pathogen and determine its sensitivity to certain medications.
Taking a general urine test.In the presence of inflammation, an increased content of red blood cells and white blood cells will be detected. An acidic urine reaction indicates the presence of a tuberculosis infection in the body.
Performing cystoscopy.An informative diagnostic procedure can be carried out only in the absence of an acute phase of the disease. When performing cystoscopy, stones, tumors and other foreign bodies can be detected. If necessary, biomaterial is collected for further diagnostic procedures.
If you experience constant urinary retention and intense acute pain, you should be careful when using painkillers. In this case, the representative of the stronger sex needs urgent hospitalization.
Basic recommendations for the treatment of cystitis
During the treatment of the disease, patients should adhere to the recommendations listed below:
Maintaining bed rest.At elevated temperatures, antipyretic medications are indicated. You also need to remember about the correct drinking regime. Moreover, patients should temporarily exclude sour and smoked foods from the diet and adhere to a strict diet. When preparing food, you should use a minimum of spices and seasonings.
Use of herbal medicines.Doctors often prescribe herbal teas that have antibacterial and diuretic effects. Such products contain natural ingredients (horsetail, bearberry). In order to reduce the intense inflammatory process, preparations based on medicinal herbs are used. To strengthen the immune system, drink fruit juice made from cranberries. When using herbal remedies, it is impossible to achieve a quick effect. Such products require long-term use. Herbal medicines are not considered essential. They are used only as part of complex treatment of cystitis.
Carrying out PCR diagnostics.It is required to detect viruses that are sexually transmitted. The treatment regimen is selected by the doctor (taking into account the type of pathogen).
Medicines with analgesic properties.To eliminate pain, it is recommended to prescribe antispasmodics. In some situations, the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Taking medications with a pronounced antibacterial effect. Such medications are prescribed after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to the prescribed medications. In the treatment of cystitis, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are actively used. Such medications are used only after consultation with a doctor. However, the duration of their use should not exceed 1 week.
Help with an attack of acute cystitis
To alleviate the patient's condition in the acute phase of cystitis, it is recommended to drink large amounts of fluid. It activates the removal of pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, the patient's well-being will gradually improve.
In advanced forms of the disease, the best option is to take antispasmodics. Such medications help reduce the tone of the smooth muscles located in the bladder area. Analgesics are used to relieve pain.
Taking antibiotics without a urologist's prescription is strictly prohibited. It can lead to distortion of the results of diagnostic studies. As a result, identifying the cause of the disease will be significantly more difficult. If you try to get treatment without consulting a doctor, you will only be able to temporarily eliminate the main symptoms of the pathology. In addition, there is a high risk of cystitis becoming chronic.
Existing risk factors
The risk of cystitis in men increases:
with irregular bladder emptying;
vitamin deficiency;
maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
unprotected sexual intercourse;
frequent change of sexual partners;
prolonged overwork;
the presence of a foreign body in the bladder area;
wearing uncomfortable underwear;
the presence of chronic diseases of the male genital organs;
decreased immunity.
Complications of the disease
You should not try to treat cystitis on your own. In the absence of proper therapy, the following consequences may occur:
Changes in the structure of the bladder.Against the background of epithelial degeneration, this organ gradually loses its elasticity and noticeably decreases in size. A consequence of cystitis is also the loss of the ability to regenerate tissue. This can result in a bladder rupture.
Kidney damage.The most common complication of untreated cystitis is pyelonephritis. An even more serious consequence is the development of renal failure. This occurs against the background of severe intoxication of the kidney tissue by waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.
Weakening of the bladder sphincter, leading to urinary incontinence.This complication is most often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Depression against the backdrop of the disease becoming chronic.Recurrences of cystitis can occur several times a month. At this time, the man turns into a "hostage of the toilet", his psychological state deteriorates significantly.
Note!In the absence of proper treatment, the risk of the disease becoming chronic is quite high. In this case, damage to both the bladder and other organs of the genitourinary system is observed.
How to avoid developing the disease?
To minimize the risk of developing the disease, you need to follow these recommendations:
Wash yourself at least once a day. In this case, it is advisable to use simple baby soap that does not contain dyes or other harmful synthetic components.
Give preference to clothing appropriate for the weather. Against the background of hypothermia, not only cystitis can develop, but also more serious pathologies that become the cause of infertility.
It is good for both partners to wash themselves with soap before and after sexual contact.
Use condoms during intimacy.
Take care of increasing your own immunity. This is especially true if a representative of the stronger sex is susceptible to frequent ARVI. If the functions of the immune system are impaired, you should consult with an immunologist.
Do not try to hold back urination. With prolonged urinary retention, a rapid development of infection in the bladder is possible.
Change your underwear daily.
Drink enough liquid.
Avoid wearing underwear made from synthetic fabrics.
After bowel movements, wash from front to back. Otherwise, bacteria will be transferred from the intestines to the external male genitalia. From there, pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate the urethra, and then into the bladder.
Follow recommendations for preventing constipation.
Do not take medications without a doctor's prescription.
During an acute attack of cystitis, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of fluid daily. Berry or fruit juices, currant fruit juice, and still drinking water are ideal for this purpose. It is recommended to forget about drinking drinks containing alcohol and soda for a while.
Sometimes osteopathic techniques are used in the treatment of cystitis. This speeds up the patient's recovery process.
If indicated, the use of acupuncture methods is indicated. They involve influencing special biological points. This technique has a minimal number of contraindications and side effects.