The prostate is one of the male sex organs. It’s shaped like a walnut and is located under the bladder, just ahead of the rectum. It’s a key part of male functionality because it is used both during sexual procreation and urination. Sometimes problems occur with the prostate which are common for men and fairly easy to determine.
Let’s look at what these three problems in detail.
Big Three Prostate Problems
The three issues that come up with the prostate are:
- Prostatitis
- Prostate cancer
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation around the prostate area or the prostate itself. It is medical condition that causes considerable pain.
There are four distinct types:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis
- Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis
- With asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, there are zero observable symptoms, it causes no major health issues and doesn’t need medical treatment.
Prostatitis is most often seen in men under the age of 50. For those over 50, it’s the third most common prostate problem. About two million Americans seek health care services for prostatitis every year.
Prostate Cancer
For U.S. men, prostate cancer is the second most likely cancer to get. It is also unfortunately the second most likely cancer to lead to early death. The condition affects black men somewhat more than it does white men; it’s also more dangerous to the black population.
There are no symptoms to determine the onset of prostate cancer. When reaching a more advanced stage, urination will sometimes become either weaker or more frequent. However, these same symptoms are evident with men who have benign prostate problems too.
The growth rate of prostate cancer is slow. The onset is most often in the above 65 age group and in this age group few men die from it. It is still unclear whether early detection helps resolve the issue or lengthens lifespan. There are screening tests available for prostate cancer.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (otherwise known as BPH) is an enlargement of the gland itself. It is not cancerous, but the enlargement causes medical issues. The prostate grows twice; once at the onset of puberty and secondly starting at around 25 years old. Growth is then progressive over a man’s life.
Unfortunately, the larger the prostate gets, the more likely it is to come into contact with the urethra. The contact causes related issues such as the bladder not being able to fully empty which in turns causes other health problems and discomfort.
If you have any doubts about your prostate health, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with the best urologist specialist in NYC to get checked out.