Prostatitis in women is not a joke, but a colloquial name for inflammation of the anterior glands. These glands are also called Skene's glands, and their inflammation - skinitis - is manifested by the same symptoms as prostatitis in men. What are the characteristics and dangers of this disease?
Does prostatitis occur in women?
The insidiousness of the pathology is that it is poorly detected by doctors and is rare.
Prostatitis in women occurs, but the disease is called skinitis. The glands that become inflamed in this pathology are located just below the urethra and are made up of sensitive tissue.
Skene's glands are thought to be a rudimentary prostate that forms in the embryo before the genitals appear. Simply put, the Skene's glands are a kind of void that develops into a full prostate in the male fetus, and remains in infancy in the female fetus.
Interestingly, these glands are capable of producing a specific secretion, which is identical in composition to prostate secretion in men. Moreover, PSA antigen, which is the most important tumor marker, can also be found in this fluid.
Interesting!The jet orgasm that occurs in some women is the result of the activity of the Skene glands.
Skinitis is rare. The problem is that female prostatitis is difficult to diagnose, it is often misdiagnosed, so there are no accurate statistics on the incidence of this disease.
Reasons for the development of skinitis
Most women are not even aware of the presence of these glands near the urethra, but when they become inflamed, acute symptoms occur that resemble the signs of prostatitis in men.
Skinitis is most commonly caused by a gland infection. The main reasons for the development of the disease:
- urethral damage;
- lack of hygiene;
- gland infection due to spread of infection in other diseases of the genital organs.
Most often, skin inflammation is caused by opportunistic microorganisms that inhabit the female body. They can enter the glands in the urine during urination or from the vagina. Under normal conditions, such microorganisms do not cause an inflammatory process, however, when the Skene glands or urethra are injured, prostatitis occurs in women. This is due to a decrease in local immunity.
Skinitis can be allergic in nature. The use of non-standard products for intimate hygiene can cause an allergic reaction and a decrease in local immunity, which increases the risk of glandular infection.
Another reason for skin inflammation in women is urethral trauma due to surgery or rough intercourse. Damage to the opening of the urethra due to urolithiasis is also possible, when sand passes through the urethra.
"Prostatitis" in women is associated with an irregular sex life. Frequent change of sexual partners and neglect of protective contraception increases the risk of developing urogenital infections.
A factor that increases the risk of developing this disease is a general decrease in immunity. Skinitis may be associated with recent severe infectious diseases, hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Symptoms of the disease
With pathology, constant weakness and "weakness" is felt throughout the body.
Once you have found out if a woman has prostatitis, you should know how the inflammation of the skin manifests. The disease is called "female prostatitis" mainly because of the symptoms that resemble inflammation of the prostate in men. When delayed, the symptoms are as follows:
- frequent urge to urinate;
- urination in small portions;
- pain and pain in the urethra when using the toilet;
- pain during sexual intercourse;
- increased body temperature;
- cramps in the bladder area;
- general weakness, loss of strength.
Skinitis in many ways resembles cystitis in women. With this disease, the urge to urinate is constantly felt, but this need cannot be fully met. Urine is excreted in small portions, and this is accompanied by severe discomfort. The feeling of a full bladder lasts even when you use the bathroom.
Skinitis can be distinguished from other diseases of the genitourinary system with similar symptoms by the presence of pain during intercourse.
There is no intense heat in skinitis, but the body temperature can rise to 37, 5-38 degrees.
Why is prostatitis dangerous in women?
Realizing the peculiarities of this disease, patients ask the question whether such prostatitis is dangerous for women. This disease can lead to dangerous complications, so it requires timely diagnosis and treatment.
Among the possible complications of skin inflammation:
- gland abscess;
- cystic neoplasms;
- secondary infertility;
- adhesions in the small pelvis;
- deformation of the area where the inflamed glands are located;
- spreading the infection to other pelvic organs.
The disease is contagious and can be caused by pyogenic bacteria. In severe cases, inflammation can develop into a gland abscess, which is accompanied by severe symptoms and requires surgical treatment. Self-penetration of an abscess is potentially dangerous with the development of sepsis (blood poisoning).
The infection can spread through the bloodstream to all organs of the pelvis. There is also a risk of spreading the pathogen with subsequent kidney infection. In addition, with extensive infection, a woman can infect her partner through unprotected intercourse. In men, bacterial urethritis can develop into prostatitis.
Diagnosis
Ultrasound diagnostics is done to make sure there are no other diseases.
Once we have established whether prostatitis exists in women and by what signs and symptoms inflammation of the skin can be suspected, it is recommended that you do not self-medicate, but seek medical help immediately.
The main problem with skin inflammation is complex diagnosis. Due to the specific location of the glands, their inflammation is accompanied by symptoms of inflammation of the bladder or urethral mucosa, so a misdiagnosis is often made and the wrong treatment regimen is prescribed.
The Skene's gland is located in a hard-to-reach place, so it is impossible to fully examine it. In that sense, the diagnosis is made by excluding other diseases with similar symptoms. Mandatory inspections:
- Bladder ultrasound to rule out cystitis;
- Ultrasound of the uterus and appendages to rule out inflammation;
- swab from cervical canal;
- bacterial culture from the cervix;
- general and biochemical analysis of urine;
- urethral swab.
After excluding other diseases, treatment of skin inflammation is prescribed. Often the most informative diagnostic method is urine analysis, which detects pathogenic microorganisms.
Treatment characteristics
When removing the skin, conservative treatment is practiced. Therapy includes taking the following groups of drugs:
- antibiotics to remove the infection;
- anti-inflammatory drugs used in urology;
- antispasmodics to reduce pain;
- immunomodulators.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics or antibacterial drugs used to treat cystitis are usually prescribed. Since it is often impossible to pinpoint the cause of the disease, a doctor may prescribe several drugs of this group at once. Third-generation cephalosporins have been well proven.
Acute symptoms subside the day after starting antibiotic treatment. However, it is important to take medication for a course, the duration of which is determined by the doctor on an individual basis.
The use of antispasmodics is recommended to relieve pain. Simple analgesics are ineffective because pain is associated with urethral and bladder spasms.
In addition, herbal anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of cystitis and kidney disease are prescribed. These drugs reduce the inflammatory process, normalize the urination process and facilitate general well-being in various diseases of the urinary tract.
Immunomodulators are needed. They also use drugs to prevent diseases of the genitourinary system and tonics, for example, echinacea purpurea extract.
Preventive measures
Once you have figured out how to cure skin inflammation, you should pay attention to important preventative measures. This disease is similar to cystitis - once you get sick, the chance of recurrence remains for many years. To prevent this, you must:
- adhere to personal hygiene;
- use barrier methods of contraception;
- have a permanent sexual partner;
- strengthen immunity.
When the first alarming symptoms appear, you must immediately make an appointment with a gynecologist and urologist. Self-medication of skin inflammation is dangerous in chronic inflammation.