Enlarged prostate: what this means
for you
I have an
enlarged prostate gland. What does that mean?
The
prostate, the male organ that produces semen, is wrapped around the tube
that drains urine from your bladder. As men grow older, the prostate
can become enlarged (from roughly the size of a walnut to a plum),
restricting or blocking the flow of urine. The condition does not morph
into cancer or increase the risk of cancer, but it can be painful,
bothersome and embarrassing.
The medical term for an enlarged
prostate gland is benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It is something
most men will have to deal with at some point in life, assuming they
live into old age. Complications from BPH include complete or partial
blockage of the urethra, urinary tract infections, bladder stones or
blood in the urine. Men who are experiencing enlarged prostates are
often worried they have prostate cancer, but there are many other more
likely causes of having an enlarged prostate gland.
Causes of BPH
What causes an enlarged prostate gland?
The
exact cause of BPH, or an enlarged prostate, remains unknown. The
likelihood of BPH occurring increases as men grow older. The disorder is
very common. A small percentage of men over 40 have it, and more than
90 percent of men older than 80 years old have it. Men who had their
testicles removed at a young age (for health reasons) cannot develop an
enlarged prostate gland.
There are no known risk factors for BPH,
other than having normally functioning testicles.
Do you have
prostatitis?
What is
prostatitis?
Prostatitis is a surprisingly common
infection that affects an estimated one in five middle-aged men in the
United States. Similar to a bladder infection, prostatitis is caused by a
bacterial infection within the prostate gland, causing the prostate to
become enlarged. Men who have prostatitis may feel pain when urinating,
and their urine streams may be weak or difficult to control. Like other
enlarged prostate conditions, prostatitis often causes men to feel a
strong, persistent urge to urinate, even if they've already voided
several times.
Prostatitis is one of many enlarged prostate
conditions that can be easily treated with therapy or medication.
Antibiotics can be used to kill the bacteria that cause infections, and
anti-inflammatory medication can bring down the swelling that puts
pressure on the bladder, causing the persistent urge to urinate.
Prostate massage can also be used to help flush the prostate of fluids
that may be contributing to prolonged symptoms. In more severe cases,
the urethra may be widened to ease the flow of urine, or other surgical
procedures may be performed to further treat or diagnose the problem.
