What should the prostate gland feel like? Diagnosis and symptoms of prostatitis

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Prostate examination

Very often, the urologist faces a whole bunch of problems when diagnosing patients with prostate diseases. Firstly, many pathologies that vary in severity and require different treatment manifest the same symptoms. Special studies and analyzes help put everything in its place.

Methods for examining the prostate gland

There are several different tests that a doctor can use to make a correct diagnosis. These are digital rectal examination, urinalysis for bacteriuria and other urinalysis, PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, biopsy.

Digital rectal examination

Secondly, the representatives of the stronger sex, as a rule, consider digital rectal examination (DRE) humiliating procedure. This study should not be treated this way, because it is a very simple, convenient and, most importantly, a quick method for detecting many anomalies of the prostate.

PRO methodology

The essence of the method is as follows. The doctor puts on a glove. Lubricates the gloved index finger with a lubricant, then gently inserts it into the anus. Palpation of the prostate gland is carried out through the anterior wall of the rectum.

At the same time, attention is drawn to its size, shape, consistency, presence of nodes, sensitivity.

The prostate gland is normal

A healthy prostate measures about 3 cm and protrudes about 1 cm into the rectum. To the touch it is elastic and elastic, painless on palpation.

A furrow is clearly expressed, which divides the gland into two lobes. If the patient is suspected of acute prostatitis, then, in most cases, symptoms of inflammation will be present, palpation of the gland will cause pain. If the prostate gland is less sensitive, but constantly enlarged in size, the most likely The diagnosis is chronic nonspecific prostatitis. In both cases, bacteriuria is likely to be detected in the urine.

PRO included in mandatory prostate cancer screening list

The digital rectal examination is an integral part of prostate cancer screening worldwide. Most oncologists recommend an annual PRO for all men over 40 years of age.

Additional Research

If an enlarged prostate has been identified during PRT, and the reasons for this are not clear enough, further steps are taken to determine the cause of possible urinary retention. Among them:

• assessment of the strength of the urine stream during urination; intravenous urography: a radiopaque substance is injected into the patient's vein, and then x-rays of the urinary tract are taken; cystoscopy: a fiber optic cystoscope is used, which is inserted through the urethra into the bladder.

Cancer screening

If there is a suspicion that the prostate gland has increased due to a malignant neoplasm, a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test is performed. It can be used to detect prostate cancer in its early stages. But this test alone is not enough to make a definitive diagnosis. As a rule, other studies are required. In addition, the PSA level can be increased due to benign prostatic hypertrophy and after palpation of the prostate. It follows from this that any rectal examinations should be carried out only after blood sampling for PSA.

Rectal Examination (DRE)

A rectal exam is a type of physical examination in which a doctor or nurse inserts a finger into the patient's rectum (anus) to feel for possible abnormalities. Some people find it uncomfortable and embarrassing to have a rectal examination during a prostate cancer diagnosis in Israeli clinics, but the procedure only takes a few minutes and is usually painless.

Reasons for a rectal examination

One common reason for a rectal examination is to suspect a prostate disorder, which may be a sign of prostate cancer or another disease. A rectal examination may also be required if the patient has bowel changes that may indicate problems with the digestive system. Such changes may include:

• Bleeding from the rectum Loss of normal bowel function, called bowel (in some cases bladder) incontinence Pain in the anus or rectum

Prostate Examination

The prostate gland is found only in men and is located in the pelvic area, between the penis and the bladder, around the urethra (the tube that carries urine to the penis from the bladder). The urethra can be examined with a rectal examination, through which a specialist can detect changes in the prostate such as swelling and induration. You can also detect an enlargement of the gland, which usually occurs in older men and puts pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing the following symptoms:

• Difficulty urinating, Intermittent or weak flow of urine, Having to strain to urinate, Frequent urge to urinate, Frequent urination at night.

In most cases, prostate enlargement brings a lot of trouble to a man, but does not pose a threat to life. However, prostate enlargement causes symptoms similar to those of prostate cancer. A rectal examination can determine whether the symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate or a malignant tumor. Prostate cancer causes a thickening of the surface of the prostate gland, which can become hard and uneven, while an enlarged prostate usually does not affect the surface of the prostate. Rectal examination during the diagnosis of prostate cancer in Israel is not a guaranteed way to determine the disease, so it is usually used in combination with other tests, such as a blood test and biopsy, which involves taking tissue samples for examination in the laboratory.

How is the procedure

Before the examination, the doctor will ask the patient to take off his underwear and lie on the couch on the left side, pulling his knees to his chest, or on his back, lifting his legs up and spreading them apart. Then the proctologist conducts a thorough visual examination of the anus to determine such anomalies as:

• WartsSwollen blood vessels around the rectum or anus, known as hemorrhoidsInjuries to the anus, such as tears and cracks

After that, the doctor uses a gel to lubricate one finger, which will gently press against the anus and move up the rectum. The patient at this time may feel some discomfort or pain.

During the examination, the doctor may ask the patient to squeeze the rectum around the finger in order to assess how well the muscles in the rectum and intestines are working. During the rectal examination, the doctor carefully examines the prostate gland for lumps and roughness. A healthy prostate should be smooth to the touch.

Pressing on the prostate is painless, but may lead to an urge to urinate. If there is an infection in the prostate, the patient may feel pain when pressed.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. The main cause of this disease is infection in the gland from the bladder, rectum, urethra, blood and lymphatic vessels of the small pelvis. Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.

It is believed that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, experts note that the real incidence is much higher than the registered one, which is explained by the peculiarities of diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form. The prostate gland is a small glandular-muscular organ, approximately the size of a walnut, which is located in the small pelvis under the bladder, covering the initial section of the urethra (urethra). The main function of the prostate gland is to produce a secret that, mixed with seminal fluid, maintains the activity of spermatozoa and their resistance to various adverse conditions.

Prostatitis: causes

As already mentioned, the main cause of prostatitis is an inflammatory process caused by an infection that has entered the prostate. However, by itself, infection in the gland is not enough for all manifestations of the disease. For the development of an unfavorable clinic of prostatitis, predisposing factors are necessary, which include:

• General hypothermia of the body. Frequent constipation - and the disease can cause not episodic constipation, but regular stool disorders. opportunities (or lazy) to get up and stretch. Chronic inflammatory diseases (for example, chronic bronchitis) and chronic foci of infection in your body (for example, tonsillitis, untreated carious teeth). Prolonged sexual abstinence or, conversely, excessive sexual activity. Both are equally harmful to the body as a whole, but primarily have a negative effect on the condition of the prostate. Postponed sexually transmitted and urological diseases (gonorrhea, urethritis). Any other conditions that contribute to the suppression of the immune system (for example, overload in athletes, regular lack of sleep, processing, inadequate and irregular nutrition, chronic stress, etc.).

All these factors either contribute to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the prostate gland, or lead to a deterioration in the blood supply to the pelvic organs, stagnant processes, which contributes to the multiplication of bacteria and the development of the inflammatory process. Seek medical attention in a timely manner. There are 4 main forms of prostatitis : acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, non-bacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia. In men younger than 35 years, the disease usually occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis is diagnosed when there is laboratory confirmation of infection.

Most often it turns out to be chlamydia, gardnerellosis, trichomoniasis or gonorrhea. However, recent studies prove that in most cases the infection is superimposed on existing disorders in the structure of the prostate tissue and blood circulation in it. With non-bacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, although this does not exclude their presence. Older patients are more often diagnosed with chronic forms of the disease. Prostatodynia refers to the presence of a clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of the prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.

Prostatitis: symptoms

Symptoms of prostatitis, in general, can be divided into 3 groups:

• disorders of the urinary system - frequent and painful urge to urinate, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, pain in the lower abdomen; sexual dysfunction - pain along the urethra and in the rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm and etc.; increased anxiety and nervousness of a man, caused by fixing the attention of patients on their condition.

The symptoms of acute and chronic prostatitis are similar, but in the case of the acute form of the disease, the painful manifestations are much more pronounced. Acute prostatitis most often begins with chills, fever and fever up to 39-40 degrees. Urination is difficult and painful. Edema of the prostate gland develops, which can cause acute urinary retention. Chronic prostatitis proceeds slowly, painful symptoms are mild, but at any time, under adverse factors, the chronic process can turn into an acute form. It is also possible asymptomatic course of the disease.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

To date, scientists have not identified the real cause of chronic pelvic pain. With this painful condition, there are long-term (for more than 3 months) pain in the pelvic area, genitals and perineum.

At the same time, using laboratory tests, it is not possible to detect signs of inflammation in the secretion of the prostate gland. However, chronic pelvic pain syndrome is perhaps the most common form of prostatitis, occurring in approximately 90% of patients who consult a doctor with characteristic complaints. Although men of any age can suffer from this disorder, it most often affects people between the ages of 35 and 45. According to experts, most likely the disease is caused by urinary reflux, i.e. penetration of urine into the prostate. Also, one of the causes of this disorder may be a violation of the normal functioning of the nervous system. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Prostatitis: diagnosis

The main method for diagnosing prostatitis is a digital rectal examination, which allows the doctor to determine the size, nature of the surface of the prostate and its sensitivity. With prostatitis, the prostate gland is edematous and painful, with a non-uniform surface to the touch. To determine the presence of stones, tumors or abscesses in the prostate gland, transrectal ultrasound is used - ultrasound, in which the sensor is inserted into the rectum. Laboratory research methods are also used to diagnose prostatitis. So, with bacterial prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes is found in the prostate secretion. When diagnosing prostatitis, various urine tests are performed, and a bacteriological examination of urine obtained after prostate massage can also be prescribed. A smear from the urethra is analyzed to determine sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, etc.).

Prostatitis: treatment

Treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis.Antibiotics are used to treat acute bacterial prostatitis. To select the drug, bakposev of the prostate secretion is carried out, which makes it possible to determine the sensitivity of the causative agent of the disease to antibiotics.

Antibiotics that can penetrate the prostate tissue, such as ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, are used to treat this disease. Treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. For the treatment of this form of prostatitis apply:

• Antibiotics - the course of treatment is long and takes 4-12 weeks. Immunomodulatory drugs - strengthen the patient's immune system and increase the body's ability to cope with the disease on its own. Prostate massage - reduces congestion, improves blood flow, promotes the removal of prostate secretion. Physiotherapy procedures - laser ( enhances tissue regeneration), ultrasound (has an antibacterial effect, promotes the penetration of drugs into the diseased organ by enhancing metabolism in the tissues of the prostate gland).

It must be remembered that an exacerbation of the disease can cause hypothermia, drinking alcohol, spicy food, irregular sex life. Treatment of non-bacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

• Despite the fact that no bacteria are found in the prostate secretion in chronic pelvic pain, doctors consider it appropriate to conduct a course of antibiotics for 2-4 weeks. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Alpha-blockers - drugs that relieve increased muscle tone of the pelvic organs, prevent urine into the prostate. Soothing drugs are prescribed, since one of the causes of the exacerbation of the disease is stress.

If you have any questions, please contact the online doctor's consultation service.

Prostatitis: prevention

• Treat inflammatory diseases of the urethra and bladder, such as cystitis, in a timely and complete manner. Maintain regular bowel movements. Regularly engage in sports - running, swimming, playing tennis, and walking. Have an active, regular sex life.

Have an active sex life

Prostatitis: treatment with folk remedies

• Pumpkin seeds. The daily dose is 30 pieces per day. Seeds must be raw. You can twist 0.5 kilograms of seeds in a meat grinder, add 200 grams of honey, make hazelnut-sized balls out of the mixture. They must be stored in the refrigerator. Take 1-2 times a day, one ball half an hour before meals. The ball must be chewed for two to three minutes. This remedy for prostatitis is very effective. As a rule, one course per year is enough.

Effective treatment for prostatitis - pumpkin seeds

• Hazel. Pour several branches of a bush with leaves with water, bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes, let it brew until red-brown. Steam over the solution for 30 minutes. The course of treatment is a week. Aspen bark infused with vodka. Bark with a thickness of 3-5 millimeters must be prepared before the buds of trees bloom, at the beginning of sap flow. Dry it in the shade or in the oven. 100 grams of crushed raw materials must be poured with 200 milliliters of vodka, closed with a lid and infused in a dark place for 2 weeks, after which the infusion is filtered. Take 3 times a day before meals, while diluting 20 drops with water to a quarter cup. The tincture is enough for about 2 months. Juice therapy. It is recommended to drink asparagus juice along with cucumber, beet and carrot juices up to 600 milliliters per day. It is also recommended to drink a glass of purified water on an empty stomach in the morning, and after 15 minutes - a tablespoon of elderberry juice. In this case, the minimum course of treatment is 10 days. For safety, add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar to 0.5 liters of juice. Propolis. This remedy has a strong antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect and quickly eliminates the symptoms of the disease. If you are prescribed medication for prostatitis, propolis will be an excellent supplement. To do this, in 200 milliliters of pure alcohol, we evaporate 40 grams of propolis. 0.1 gram of extract is mixed with 2 grams of cocoa butter. We make a candle from the mixture. Such suppositories with propolis from prostatitis are used for a month, then a break for 4-6 weeks and a new course of treatment.

In case of signs of chronic prostatitis in the diet, the following foods should be limited:

• Products that cause increased gas formation in the intestines - legumes, white cabbage, whole milk. Meat, fish and mushroom broths and sauces. Onions, garlic, radish, radish, horseradish. Seasonings and spices.

This method of diagnosing prostate ailments was used by the ancient healers of the time of Hippocrates, who did not have the opportunity to examine patients using any laboratory and instrumental methods.

Today, doctors say that all men over the age of 40 should have a rectal prostate exam every year. Examination is also necessary for patients who suffer from urinary dysfunction or have problems with erection.

A digital examination of the prostate gland is a diagnostic procedure that is performed by a physician instructed through the patient's rectum.

During the manipulation, a person must take a special pose.

It is better if the man lies on his side with his legs brought to his stomach and bent at the knees or takes a knee-elbow position. An experienced doctor will easily detect the prostate through the rectum.

It is located about 3-4 cm above the anus and has a pronounced median groove that divides the organ into two lobes. The size of a healthy prostate is 2.5-4.5 cm in diameter. On palpation, it has a tight elastic consistency and a certain mobility.

Indications for digital examination of the prostate

• men over the age of 50;
• males who have had inflammatory diseases in the past or had tumors of the prostate gland;
• patients with a genetic predisposition to the development of prostate ailments;
• men with complaints of urination and erection disorders, as well as those experiencing in the pelvic area.

Doctors constantly remind about the importance of preventive examinations for men of any age. Since it is the timely determination of diseases of the organs of the male genital area that allows you to prescribe effective treatment and avoid the serious consequences of pathological conditions.

Preparation of palpation of the pancreas through the rectum

In order for the picture of the state of the prostate to be really clear and informative during the examination, the patient must refrain from:

• a few hours before a rectal examination;
• ride on;
• physical labor and

On the eve of the digital examination, it is imperative to empty the intestines by a natural method or make an enema.

Particular attention should be paid to psychological preparation. During the examination, a man should not worry or be nervous. Excitement can provoke false diagnostic results and, accordingly, an incorrect diagnosis.

How is the check going?

Before the procedure, the doctor must talk with the patient, ask him about complaints and determine the presence of a genetic predisposition to prostate pathologies.

The specialist should definitely explain to the person the technique of manipulation and warn him about the possible risks of consequences.

If the rectal examination is performed correctly, then after it there should not be any side effects or.

A digital examination of the prostate should be performed in positions such as knee-elbow or lying on the right side with legs tucked under.

Before inserting a finger into the rectum, the doctor puts on sterile gloves and lubricates the index finger to facilitate its penetration into the organ cavity (vaseline, glycerin).

By palpation, the doctor can evaluate a number of characteristics of the prostate, including:

• the shape and size of the organ;
• elasticity and consistency;
• symmetry of the structural components of the prostate gland;
• mobility relative to adjacent organs;
• clarity of contours and longitudinal furrows;
• the presence of pain during the examination, tumors or stones.

What should a man's prostate feel like?

The prostate gland is normally palpated at a distance of 3-4 cm from the anus towards the pubic symphysis. By consistency, it resembles an elastic ball with clear contours, which is freely displaced relative to the rectal mucosa.

Normal and enlarged prostate

An experienced specialist will always be able to assess the size of the organ, find the frontal groove and judge their normality. The transverse size of the gland should be in the range from 25 to 35 m, while its lengthwise is 25-30 mm.

Normally, palpation of the prostate should not cause pain, discomfort, or the appearance of blood in the secret.

What does it mean if the prostate is hard?

A hard prostate gland on digital examination indicates pathological changes in the organ.

Among the reasons for the development of pathological changes in the body can be:

• inflammatory process or (and);
• benign tumors;
• malignant neoplasms.

When determining a hard prostate, the patient is invited to undergo additional laboratory and instrumental examinations in order to understand the nature of the change in the consistency of the organ.

As a rule, hardening of the prostate is not asymptomatic and is almost always accompanied by the appearance, disruption of normal urination, problems with erectile function.

Examination of the prostatic secretion

Analysis of the prostatic secretion makes it possible to judge the presence of an inflammatory process in the organ, the nature of the pathogen, and even the stage of the pathological condition or the degree of its chronicity.

The study of the secret is a microscopy of the physiological fluid that is produced in the prostate and is an important component of sperm. To take a secret for analysis, it is necessary to conduct a rectal massage of the organ, during which it occurs.

Manipulation can be carried out at any time of the day and without prior preparation of the patient. On the eve of the test, it is recommended to refrain from sexual intercourse. The secret of the prostate is examined under a microscope and the number of leukocyte cells, epithelium, lecithin grains, amyloid inclusions is determined in it. The examination allows you to diagnose the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the prostate fluid.

After they are identified, the laboratory assistant makes a mandatory sowing of biological material to identify the nature of infectious agents, their activity and sensitivity to.

Normally, the secret is a viscous white liquid, which has a characteristic odor reminiscent of the aroma of chestnut flowers.

A healthy prostatic secret contains single leukocytes, 0-1 erythrocytes in the field of view and a small amount of epithelium. It does not detect amyloid inclusions and bacteria, the appearance of which indicates the development of a pathological process.

Related videos

About the technique of conducting a rectal examination of the prostate gland in the video:

Rectal examination of the prostate gland is an important diagnostic procedure that makes it possible to identify diseases of the organ even at the initial stages of development. With its help, it is possible to suspect in time the appearance of structural changes in the prostate in a man, the occurrence of tumor processes and inflammation.

The prostate is an organ of the genitourinary system that requires regular check-ups by an experienced doctor. All men over the age of 40 should undergo an extended diagnostic examination every six months.

It is at this time that the risk of serious diseases in the prostate increases significantly. This is due to a change in the work of the endocrine system, hormonal disruptions.

With the timely diagnosis of any problems, it will be possible to get rid of them with the help of medication alone. This significantly improves the quality of life, removes the threat of death.

When should the prostate be checked?

It must be remembered that many diseases of the genitourinary system in the initial stages do not manifest themselves with any symptoms.

It is possible to identify them quite by accident, during any diagnostic examination. This allows you to prescribe a comprehensive treatment in time to stop degenerative processes. Only in 30% of cases, men turn to a urologist if they have any complaints.

You should definitely visit a specialist if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Regular bouts of weakness, increased blood pressure;
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• The appearance of discharge from the urethra;
• Rashes and redness of the skin on the genitals;
• Darkening of the color of urine;
• Discomfort that appears during intimacy;
• The appearance of blood and an unpleasant odor from the genitals;
• Pain when urinating;
• Constant urge to go to the toilet;
• Pain in the groin area.

If at least one of these symptoms appears, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. He will tell you how to check the prostate in men, and also conduct all the necessary studies.

This will help diagnose the exact cause of discomfort, after which you will be prescribed an effective and comprehensive treatment. It will also help to significantly reduce the risk of complications, and even prevent negative pathogenic consequences.

Prostate evaluation by a urologist

The first diagnostic examination of the prostate is an examination by a urologist. To do this, the specialist puts on sterile gloves, after which he puts the patient in the pose of a dog, pushes his buttocks apart and inserts his index finger into the anus.

After that, he strokes and moves the prostate, checks its mobility. If he needs to take a secret from the prostate for analysis, then he squeezes it into the urethra. After that, the specialist does a massage of the interlobar furrow.

Doctors believe that the most successful research method is a two-finger entrance to the anus. After that, the specialist examines the condition of the prostate gland, draws conclusions about the need for further examination.

To more clearly understand what the size of the prostate is, with the other hand, the specialist can press on the stomach. This will also help him to know the exact width, length and consistency of this organ. A digital examination of the prostate is a must at every visit to the doctor.

How should the prostate feel to the touch?

In a completely healthy man, the prostate has the shape of a circle. It is based on two identical lobes, between which lies a groove. On average, the length of the prostate across - from 3 to 5 centimeters, longitudinally - from 2.7 to 4.2.

During a manual examination, the patient should not feel any discomfort, and even more painful sensations. According to the consistency, the prostate gland should be elastic and tight, and its contours should be clear.

If the organ is not what it should be, the doctor sends the man for a more advanced study.

Laboratory methods of examination

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor must conduct an extended laboratory examination of the prostate gland. This will help to study what changes have occurred in the body. In addition, such studies make it possible to distinguish one disease from another.

First of all, a general blood test is prescribed. It shows whether there is an inflammatory process in the body or not. Also, with the help of such a study, the doctor can diagnose the viral or bacterial nature of the lesion.

A general urinalysis is also prescribed. It can be used to identify serious destructive changes in the prostate. This is done by epithelial cells in the urine. This study also shows whether there is an inflammatory process in the body.

Using a urine test, the doctor can conclude that there is a sexually transmitted disease that can develop into more serious illnesses.

To accurately determine the nature of the infectious lesion, a smear from the urethra is prescribed. The Wasserman reaction is carried out, with the help of which syphilis is diagnosed.

No less diagnostic benefit has prostate secretion analysis. It is quite difficult to obtain this material; for this, a rectal examination is performed. To get the most truthful results, doctors strongly recommend completely abandoning sexual activity.

With the help of such an analysis, the doctor can determine the amount of lecithin grains, color, consistency, reaction, chemical composition of this secret. If a violation is pursued in at least one indicator, then the doctor sends the patient for a blood test for PSA.

A PSA blood test is a test that allows you to diagnose malignant neoplasms in the prostate gland. The bottom line is to determine specific markers that rapidly grow in the body during tumor processes. Such an analysis helps to distinguish prostate adenoma from cancer.

How to check the prostate with instrumental methods?

Instrumental methods for diagnosing the prostate allow you to determine how correctly and well the organ works.

Such diagnostics include the following studies:

• ureteroscopy;
• radiography;
• Cystoscopy.

The diagnostic importance of cystoscopy and ureteroscopy lies in the fact that the doctor can thus diagnose the narrowing of the urethra. Such a disease may indicate a serious degenerative change in the tissues of the prostate gland.

Usually, such a problem can be recognized by an increase in the size of the penis. It is also often accompanied by serious problems with urination. In this case, cystoscopy is performed, which determines the work and condition of the bladder.

Ultrasound diagnosis of the prostate allows you to determine the structure and shape of this organ. Also, with its help, you will find out the degree of narrowing of the tubules of the bladder. To distinguish prostate adenoma from cancer, doctors need to know the density of this organ.

With the help of x-rays, the doctor determines the size of the organs of the entire small pelvis. This allows you to diagnose the presence or absence of metastases, which indicates a serious cancer process.

Prostatography is an x-ray method for examining the prostate, in which a special fluid is used. It is designed to create contrast. The essence of this diagnostic method is to study not only prostatitis, but also prostate adenoma.

With the help of prostatography, the doctor will be able to obtain detailed information about the condition of the prostate. The advantage of this research method is the absence of the need for a preparatory process.

The only thing required of a man is to empty his bladder. Prostatography is carried out in the following way:

1. A contrast agent is injected into the bladder in the form of a gas or liquid. To do this, the specialist uses a special catheter. In some cases, contrast is injected into the prostate tissue. In this case, the specialist makes an injection into the perineum with a syringe with a long needle;
2. After the contrast enters the body, it is rapidly distributed into the blood and distributed throughout the body;
3. A few minutes later, a person is placed under an X-ray machine, after which the specialist determines the state of blood circulation. In this case, the radiograph is taken in two positions: on the side and back.

During a prostatogram, the doctor needs to determine how blood moves through the prostate gland. If any abnormalities are detected, the patient is sent for other diagnostic studies.

In order to distinguish an adenoma from an adenocarcinoma, a PSA test is performed. Keep in mind that it is far from always possible to study the secret of the penis: such a study is strictly prohibited for hemorrhoids, tuberculosis and fissures in the anus.

Prevention

Even if studies have shown that your prostate is completely healthy, you need to adhere to a number of rules. This will help prevent the development of complications in the future, as well as preserve the normal functioning of the penis.

In general, preventive measures include the following recommendations:

• It is necessary to wear only underwear made from natural fabrics that fits you perfectly in size;
• Visit your doctor regularly and get tested;
• Adhere to the rules of personal hygiene;
• Avoid casual and unsafe sex;
• Eat properly and nutritiously;
• Lead an active lifestyle, regularly walk in the fresh air;
• Do special exercises that restore blood circulation in the pelvis;
• Don't sit on the cold;
• Give up alcohol and smoking.

If you lead a healthy lifestyle, the risk of any pathologies with the prostate will be extremely low.

Even if it occurs, it will develop very slowly. With a timely visit to the doctor, you will be diagnosed with a problem, after which a comprehensive treatment will be prescribed.

The prostate gland is an organ of the male reproductive system that takes part in spermatogenesis, by producing special hormones, they produce a secret that dilutes the seminal fluid and improves its patency. So how to find the prostate and examine it?

Manual or how to call it correctly rectal finger examination of the prostate gland is the first examination method that does not require the use of expensive equipment and is quite informative. Starting such a procedure, the doctor, first, examines the anus, as there may be changes that can provoke diseases ( areas of infiltration of an inflammatory nature, hemorrhoidal fissures and nodes).

In the diagnosis of diseases of the prostate, this research method plays an important role. The procedure is carried out: when the patient lies on his right side, or kneels and elbows, or standing, bending forward while leaning on his elbows and spreading his legs.

The doctor inserts the index finger of the right hand into the rectum and directly examines the gland. Normally, the prostate gland is located at a distance of 4 cm from the anus in front of the rectum. It determines: what size of iron (normally it is no more than 3 cm wide, no more than 4 cm long), what consistency (normally it should be elastic). Checks for the presence of a groove that divides the gland into two lobes, normally it should be well palpable.

If there are any changes in the gland (inflammatory or tumoral in nature), then the boundaries of the gland are smoothed, its size may decrease or increase, the consistency may vary from testy to dense cartilage, the presence of various foci in the form of compaction or softening of tissues, crepitus, fluctuation . It is also checked whether the mucous layer of the rectum is displaced.

During the examination, a massage is performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The doctor performs this manipulation by lightly stroking the lobes of the gland from the sides to the center. If it is necessary to get the secret of the prostate gland, then the massage is finished by sliding along the interlobar groove, thereby the doctor, as it were, squeezes the secret from the prostatic glands into the urethra.

With this type of examination, seminal vesicles, if they are not changed, cannot be felt. They can be palpated if there is a pathological increase in them, while they are determined on both sides of the center line directly above the prostate. To the touch, these are oblong formations. The best position for examining the seminal vesicles is when the patient is squatting, that is, putting himself on the doctor's finger. At the same time, he evaluates the density, uniform consistency, the size of the seminal vesicles, whether there is a pain symptom.

Also doing research cooper (bulbourethral) glands. These are two small glands of the so-called external secretion. To the touch, they are dense in consistency, no more than 1 cm in size. They are located in the thickness of the perineum, directly at the base of the penis. These glands perform a protective function, they secrete a secret that protects the urethra from the effects of the acidic environment of urine. They also improve the permeability of spermatozoa through the urethra. They are probed during inflammatory processes with the index finger, which is inserted into the rectum, and the thumb, which is placed on the skin in the perineum.

Rectal digital examination of the prostate gland does not require any special preparation of the patient. And does not cause any harm to his health.

A healthy prostate is an opportunity to maintain men's health for a long time. If you notice pain in this organ, do not rush to start self-treatment. Before starting certain procedures, you need to consult a doctor to find out how the prostate should feel to the touch.

The prostate gland helps to remove urine from the body. The composition of the ejaculate contains polyamine, which every day protects the genitals from various kinds of bacteria.

Inflammation of the gland is brought to incontinence, and also to the point that a person cannot lead a normal sexual life. In addition, the risk of infection increases.

Dimensions and Structure

The development of the prostate stops by the age of 20. The process of changes in the body of a teenager, as a result of which he becomes an adult and capable of procreation, slows down, the hormonal background is now calmer, the young man is a full-fledged man. Usually the size of the prostate increases, and this is quite normal.

For example, the size of a healthy organ at 50 years old should be about 22.9 cm3, and at 25 - 19.6 cm3. A slight increase in the gland is quite normal for the body. However, if a man at the age of 50 has a prostate twice as large as normal, this is a serious reason to think and see a doctor.

Unhealthy is that which in a short period of time has gone beyond the limits of the norm. Most often, this disease is accompanied by a number of symptoms, but it also happens that a person does not even notice the changes.

There is a specific Gromov formula that will help determine the normal size of the prostate. You just need to know the person's age.

Thanks to this, rounded figures can be fixed, but exact calculations will be revealed only after a visit to the hospital.

How to feel the prostate

At the moment, medicine has stepped forward and offers us a wide range of ideas to solve this problem.

Objective research

This method is resorted to if the disease of the gland has not reached its highest peak and there is no need to use additional equipment. In accordance with the examination, a specialist can make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe tests.

What is included in the main plan of this diagnostic method:

1. The doctor finds out the main complaints of the patient, asks how long he has been worried about the symptoms associated with the prostate gland, as a result of which the disorder appeared, how fast it developed, is there a risk of the situation worsening.
2. Examination of the external genitalia.
3. Feeling the doctor of the prostate gland.

Useful video: prostate - structure, functions

instrumental method

If the first method did not help to establish the cause of the disease of this organ, an instrumental approach should be used. This includes:

• method of examination of the urethra (urethra) using an optical device;
• medical research method, examination of the inner surface of the bladder, type of endoscopy;
• ultrasonography;
• radiography.

The first two methods are used to detect narrowing of the urethra. Based on the actual size of the gland, its shape, the degree of narrowing of the urethra. X-ray examination contributes to the complete visualization of all organs of the pelvis and their relationship to each other.

Biopsy

The most common method is a biopsy. However, it can only be used with a doctor's prescription.

First of all, this is necessary for the differential diagnosis of glandular hyperplasia and a malignant process.

In addition, this method can confirm a previously established diagnosis, as well as fix the stage of the disease.

During the period of palpation of the organ, the patient should not feel any discomfort, much less pain.

How should the prostate feel to the touch? According to the consistency, the prostate gland should be elastic and tight, and its contours should be clear.

Options for pathology

There are several stages in the development of the disease of this organ, in which completely different symptoms can be distinguished.

With adenoma

The main manifestations of the disease:

1. Difficulty urinating, light jet or even painful urination.
2. Frequent feeling of clogging and fullness of the bladder.
3. Inability to sleep due to the fact that you constantly want to go to the toilet.
4. Pain in part of the bladder.

Note! Without an additional examination by a doctor and the opportunity to correct the situation, chronic prostatitis, inflammation of the bladder, an inflammatory disease of the kidneys, characterized by damage to the parenchyma of the kidney, calyx and renal pelvis, appears. In the future, erection problems, rapid ejaculation are possible.

With prostatitis

Prostatitis is a form of chronic or acute inflammation of the prostate gland.

In severe form: a sudden increase in body temperature, a feeling of cold, accompanied by muscle trembling, sharp pain in the lower abdomen on both sides.

Sharp pain may also be felt when trying to go to the toilet.

Without proper treatment, it can lead not only to the chronicity of the inflammatory process, but also to infertility, as well as generalization of the infection.

In the chronic form: similar signs, which, however, proceed more slowly, with periodic exacerbations. Chronic prostatitis leads not only to infertility, but also to the development of an ascending infection, an inflammatory process in the bladder, kidneys, testicles and seminal vesicles.

With hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma) is usually the result of chronic diseases of the genitourinary system. During the development of adenoma, the organ in question becomes hard, edema is observed. In addition, a tumor appears, which is benign in the first stage.

Reasons for the change in consistency

Hardness and swelling are the main signs of a disease in men. The most common causes of prostatitis are age-related changes or hormonal imbalance.

A soft prostate may indicate swelling of the tissue as a result of congestive processes.

In addition, an important role is played by:

1. Eating unhealthy food.
2. Smoking, alcohol.
3. The use of drugs and compounds that reduce the level or activity of male androgen hormones in the body.
4. Hypothermia.

In addition, the bacterial form is isolated.

The occurrence of bacterial prostatitis contributes to the emergence of specific types of pathological bacteria.

How does the infection get inside the body:

• from the urethra;
• from other inflamed parts of the body;
• through vessels consisting of merged lymphatic capillaries, through which the body drains lymph from tissues and organs into the venous system.

Symptoms

Doctors identified the main symptoms:

1. Constant desire to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, weak urine flow, feeling that the bladder is still full after urination, lack of control of the flow of urine.
2. Pain during the exit of urine, ejaculation, discomfort in the urethra at the end of urination, sharp pains in the perineum and testicles.
3. Decreased quality, short sexual intercourse, the presence of blood in the ejaculate.

A urologist will help solve this problem, so you will need to contact him first. Tests will need to be taken upon arrival at the hospital:

• clinical analysis of urine;
• a portion of urine for three glasses;
• detection of infections that are sexually transmitted;
• study of prostate secretion.

Diffuse changes are visual disturbances in the structure of the parenchyma. Most often, they occur due to inflammation, abscesses, or the discovery of a tumor in the tissues.

Important! Ultrasound is the best way to assess the signs of the gland - its size, structure, heterogeneity, structure, shape - and to identify deviations from the norm.

Useful video: how to feel the prostate yourself and determine prostatitis

Conclusion

Now you have learned how the prostate should feel to the touch. It is very important to contact a specialist in a timely manner so that the disease does not continue to develop. A healthy prostate to the touch is an opportunity to maintain your health for a long time.