Facts About Prostate Health

What Every Man Should Know

Q.  What Is The Prostate?
A.  The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and rectum. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube through which urine is carried from the bladder to the outside of the body. The prostate is responsible for producing some of the fluid in which sperm travel.

Q.  What Are Its Normal Changes?
A.  From birth through adolescence, the prostate is about the size of an almond. After puberty, it grows to the size of a walnut and remains that size until a man reaches his forties. Then the prostate begins to grow again.
Most researchers think that a hormone triggers this enlargement.

Q.  What Is Prostatitis?
A.  Prostatitis is an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland which may or may not be the result of bacteria. It is caused by the spread of infection in the bladder or urethra. Prostatitis can occur in men of all ages.

Q.  What Are Symptoms of Prostatitis?
A.  Prostatitis is usually accompanied by pain or a burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, a frequent sensation of having a full bladder, burning with ejaculation, or discolored semen.

Q.  How is Prostatitis Diagnosed?
A.  Prostatitis is diagnosed after the doctor has evaluated the symptoms and performed a digital rectal exam to determine if the prostate is inflamed. In this exam a doctor inserts a lubricated gloved finger in the rectum to check the prostate. Prostatitis may also be diagnosed if the urine culture is positive.

Q.  How is Prostatitis Treated?
A.  The standard treatment for Prostatitis is antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Prostatitis is also treated with anti-inflammatory agents or medicine that relaxes the prostate tissue. Possible side effects of the treatments include stomach upset, light-headedness, or low blood pressure.

Q.  What Is BPH?
A.  Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate. This condition is typically found in men over 40. The prostate begins growing again around age 40. This is thought to be the result of normal hormonal changes. The enlargement of the prostate is due to benign (non-cancerous) excess tissue growth.

Q.  What Are Symptoms of BPH
A.  The symptoms of BPH may be similar to the symptoms that occur with prostate cancer. Frequent urination (also a sign of prostatitis), incomplete emptying of the bladder, a weak or interrupted urine stream and difficulty starting urination can all be indicators of BPH.

Q.  How Is BPH Diagnosed?
A.  BPH is diagnosed based on the patient's symptoms and the same tests used to exclude prostate cancer. In the digital rectal exam, the doctor inserts a lubricated gloved finger in the rectum to check the prostate for abnormalities. A second test, prostate specific antigen (PSA), is a blood test.

Q.  How Is BPH Treated
A.  BPH is treated by "watchful waiting" (monitoring to see if it worsens), medication, or surgery. The main medications either relax muscles or block hormones to shrink prostate tissue. There are three forms of conventional surgery. Most common is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), in which excess prostate is removed. Check with your doctor on possible side effects and new treatments.

Click on the links to learn more about
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Cancer - Reduce Your Risk
What's All the Talk About Prostate Cancer?
Symptoms of Prostate Disease
Common Health Concerns of Men
A Guide to Men's Health Tests