There are many risk factors for prostatitis. Some of them cannot be changed, such as [source 1-3]:
・Age. Because prostatitis is common in men under the age of 50, young and middle-aged populations need extra attention to maintain a healthy sex life [source 1].
・Male.
・Congenital disorders. Certain congenital diseases may promote prostate inflammation, such as congenital immunodeficiency diseases. The body resistance of patients with congenital immunodeficiency diseases is weak, and the prostate is easily invaded by pathogens, resulting in inflammation.
There are other risk factors that can be controlled. Intervention or avoidance of these factors can eliminate or reduce the probability of prostatitis [source 1-4][1].
・Prostate congestion. Congestion caused by various reasons is an important pathogenic factor of prostatitis.
oIrregular sex. For example, excessive sex life, forced interruption of intercourse, etc.
oPerineal compression. Cycling, horseback riding, and prolonged sitting can all lead to repeated perineal damage and prostate congestion, especially long-term cycling.
oAn unhealthy lifestyle. For example, alcoholism, gluttony of greasy food, etc., may affect the normal metabolic process of the body, endanger the body’s immunity, and increase the risk of inflammation.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
oInappropriate prostate massage. Prostate massage means that doctors or professionals use sterile and lubricated hands to insert into the rectum and press the prostate with the index finger in a certain order, which can play an auxiliary role in the treatment of prostatitis. However, if the manipulation is too heavy or the massage is too frequent, it may cause prostate congestion.
oCold. A cold may cause a series of regulatory processes in the body, hinder the excretion of prostatic fluid, and lead to stasis congestion and inflammation of the prostate.
・Urine irritation. When a patient has a urinary tract infection, it may cause bladder outlet obstruction, and urine cannot be completely discharged from the urethra, resulting in residual urine. Excessive accumulation of urine may reflux into the prostate. Urine contains a variety of acid-base chemicals, which can induce chronic prostatitis.
・Infection with pathogenic microorganisms. A variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses can become the source of infection for prostatitis, with bacteria being the most common.
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・Anxiety, depression, fear. 50% of patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis have psychological abnormalities such as anxiety, depression, fear, and pessimism [2]. If you suffer from mental illness, the body’s immune system will be suppressed, resulting in a weakened body’s resistance to pathogens and an increased risk of prostatitis. Psychological factors are related to age, and younger patients are more affected by psychological factors than older patients.
・Immune factors. Studies have shown that chronic prostatitis has a certain relationship with autoimmune factors[2]. Some patients with prostatitis produce anti-prostate antibodies due to acquired immunodeficiency, resulting in inflammation of the prostate tissue.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
References
Source 1: Patient education section of mayo official website (https:https://www.mayoclinic.org/)
Source 2: Guidelines for the Treatment of Prostatitis. Urology Branch of Chinese Medical Association (CUA). 2011
Source 3: Merck Manuals of Medicine (https:https://www.merckmanuals.com/home)
Source 4: WebMD (https:https://www.webmd.com)
[1] Zhang Minjian, Bin Bin,Shang Xuejun et al. Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Andrology Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2015, 35(8): 933-940.
[2] Guidelines for the treatment of prostatitis. Urology Branch of Chinese Medical Association (CUA). 2011
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