Main cause of prostatitis is bacterial infections. However, in some cases, disease has non-infectious nature. Hypothermia, sedentary lifestyle and bad habits contribute to disease development.
Prostatitis is most common male disease, which is inflammation of prostate gland. Peak incidence occurs in men aged 50 years and older. Although in recent years, doctors are increasingly noted prostatitis in young men and even in children! What is reason for this insidious disease?
Main cause – bacteria
Main cause of inflammation of prostate gland is bacterial infection that penetrates prostate. Various bacteria act as infectious agents, for example, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Koch bacillus, staphylococcus, streptococcus and others.
Chlamydia, mycoplasma, Trichomonas, viruses (for example, herpes) and fungal infections can also cause inflammation in prostate. Acute form of bacterial prostatitis, as a rule, is accompanied by vivid symptoms: high fever, pain in lower abdomen and severe urination disorder. If acute prostatitis isn`t treated, then disease becomes chronic.
Non-infectious prostatitis
In rare cases, prostatitis occurs without infection. There is possibility that cause of such prostatitis may be an infectious agent, which is still unknown to science.
However, doctors are inclined to believe that this is non-infectious prostatitis, cause of which may be:
- Reduced immunity and development of autoimmune process, which can lead to development of inflammation in prostate gland.
- Chemical inflammation that develops as result of throwing certain amount of urine into tissue of prostate gland.
- Neurogenic inflammation – effect of specific substances (secreted from nerve endings) on prostate tissue.
The above non-infectious causes of prostatitis are caused by stagnation in pelvic organs, which develop against background of following conditions and diseases:
- Violation of urine outflow and increased pressure in urethra.
- Urethritis – inflammation of urethra, in which infectious process can spread to prostate gland.
- Injuries of perineum and prostate, which lead to stagnation in pelvic organs.
Risk factors
Infectious and non-infectious causes of prostatitis are realized under influence of certain factors, including:
- Sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, casual sex without barrier means of contraception can be trigger in development of prostatitis.
- Presence of chronic diseases in which pathogenic bacteria can enter prostate gland with bloodstream. As such diseases can act antritis, bronchitis, caries and others.
- Hypothermia of body, in particular, pelvic organs. This leads to decrease in local immunity.
- Frequent stresses and heavy physical exertion, causing nervous and physical exhaustion.
- Irregular sex life, in particular prolonged abstinence. During ejaculation, prostate massage takes place, and prolonged abstinence contributes to development of stagnation in prostate gland.