The prostate gland, simply called the prostate, is a small, walnut-sized gland found at the base of the bladder of the male reproductive system.
The prostate produces an alkaline fluid that leaves the urethra during ejaculation and helps to nourish sperm. The urethra—the thin tube that allows urine and semen to pass out of the penis—runs through the prostate gland.
Two phases of growth
The prostate undergoes two main spurts of growth. The first is due to increased production of sex hormones secreted by the testes during puberty. This growth phase causes the prostate to reach an average weight of 20 grams.
The second spurt of growth starts when men are in their thirties and eventually results in urinary issues in most men. In fact, by the age of 55, around 25-percent of men have a prostate condition related to prostate enlargement; while about 50-percent of men aged 70 years and older have urinary issues.
What are the most common types of prostate disease?
Most frequently we see prostatitis (inflammation), benign prostatic hyperplasia (non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate), and prostate cancer.
Additionally, we see many cases of prostatitis in younger men and numerous cases of benign prostate disease and prostate cancer in older men. Some men present with more than one of these conditions.
- Prostatitis
Prostatitis means inflammation of the prostate. It is a common prostate problem in younger men, aged between 30 and 50 years. There are two main types of prostatitis: bacterial prostatitis and non-bacterial prostatitis.
But the symptoms are more or less similar, including difficulty urinating, pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, especially at night, and chills and fever along with urinating problems.
Bacterial prostatitis can be acute or chronic, and usually responds well to antibiotic drugs that can get into the prostate.
Non-bacterial prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), can be due to an irritation from some chemicals, sexual abuse, chronic anxiety, problems with pelvic floor muscles, or a problem with the nerves connecting the lower urinary tract.
Treatment for prostatitis may include antibacterial drugs and supportive treatments, depending on the type of prostatitis.
- Benign prostate enlargement
Non-cancerous prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a more frequent problem as men get older. Although not usually life-threatening, it significantly affects quality of life.
With prostate enlargement, the urethra—that is surrounded by the prostate—gets narrower and piles increased pressure on the base of the bladder, leading to obstruction of urine flow.
BPH is very common, but rarely causes symptoms before age 40. However, it causes symptoms in about 50-percent of men between ages 51 and 60 and in up to 90-percent of men older than age 80.
The symptoms include difficulty urinating, frequent urination, particularly at night, an urge to urinate even when the bladder is empty, a weak or intermittent stream of urine, and a sense of incomplete emptying when urinating.
BPH often shows up as lower urinary tract symptoms, but when it happens suddenly—what is called acute urinary retention—it is very painful and requires a catheter to release urine.
Ongoing (chronic) retention, though less common, often leads to dangerous, painless accumulation of urine in the bladder. A rare form of chronic urinary retention related to high bladder pressures, can damage kidney function.
Treatment for BPH may include medications to relax the smooth muscle of the gland or to shrink the size of the prostate, and surgery to produce a permanently widened channel in the part of the urethra that passes through the prostate.
- Prostate cancer
For men over the age of 50 years, the biggest challenge is prostate cancer. While the actual cause of the cancer is unclear, family history and advancing age are known to be contributing factors.
Early-stage prostate cancer is usually confined to the prostate gland. But more aggressive types of the disease have the cancer cells spreading and entering the vascular and lymphatic systems, resulting in secondary tumors, especially in the bones.
Treatment for prostate cancer is tailored to suit individual circumstances. Though the nature of the cancer, other health problems the person may have, and the person’s preferences and wishes are all taken into account.
Timely, high-precision diagnosis and treatment
Are you having urinary issues? Would you like to be checked for prostate disease? At Advanced Urology Institute, we have a dedicated prostate disease diagnosis and treatment clinic.
We have skilled and experienced urologists who utilize the latest equipment and techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatic problems. We keep pace with the latest breakthroughs in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, always trying to acquire the most efficient equipment and to incorporate the most up-to-date techniques.
For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of prostate diseases and other urologic problems, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
