Problems Of The Male Prostate
Fifty per cent of all men over the age of 50 either have or will have prostate gland problems. A staggering one in six men are likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Though the risk can be reduced with preventative measures, the focus of this article will be on non cancer related problems in guys prostate.
The prostate is an exocrine gland (carries fluids from the body) about the shape and size of a walnut and located in front of the rectum, just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra that carries urine from the body. The fluids it secrets form part of semen and they are stored with sperm from the testicles in the seminal vesicles that are located behind the bladder. When the male reaches a sexual climax, muscles contract and cause the prostate to secrete this fluid into the urethra. From there it is expelled from the body through the penis.
The prostate also plays a role in controlling the flow of urine. Since it is wrapped around the urethra, its muscles contract, slowing the flow of urine from the body.
Non cancer related problems with the prostrate fall into one of two main categories- prostatitis, and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH.
A fourth of men having urinary problems have prostatitis. It is a condition that causes inflammation or infection of the prostate. There are four types off prostatitis.
1) Pelvic floor myalgia or Prostatodynia (PFM) may cause pain in the prostate, pelvic area, and penis and may cause problems in urinating. Inflammation is not caused nor is bacteria related to it. Non-bacterial prostatitis (NBP) on the other hand, has the same symptoms as CBP (see below), though the cause is not known.
The third type of prostatitis is call Acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) and is caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms may include malaise, frequent urination (day & night), muscular pain, lower back pain, fever, chills, pain in pelvic area with urination, inability to empty the bladder, and/or pain with ejaculation. These symptoms may appear suddenly and may be very severe. Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is also caused by bacteria, and the symptoms are similar to ABP, but are not usually as severe or as sudden.
2) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or simply BPH is another major prostrate problem. As men age, the prostate enlarges because of tissue change. Men over the age of 40 may begin to experience these symptoms without even realizing they are prostate related. The cause of BPH is not known, although it seems to be linked to hormonal imbalance, heredity, or high fat diets.
Some men with BPH experience no symptoms. If, however, the enlarged prostate presses on the urethra, symptoms will result. These are: weak stream, inability to delay urination, more frequent urination (day & night), painful or bloody urination not emptying the bladder completely, difficulty stopping and starting, and incontinence (no control).
Though these problems range from annoying to serious, they do not mean a person has cancer. Men over 50 need to have a yearly checkup to be sure prostate cancer has not developed. Before going for this test, make an itemized list of any urinary problems you have had and how severe they are. This will help the doctor in diagnosing the problem. Here’s some good news; most of the above symptoms can be reduced or eliminated medically.
So be aware of the potential problems, but act so you can avoid them and experience mens prostate health.