›› Prostate
The prostate is a
male sexual reproductive gland, normally weighing around 20 grams and
measuring about 3 centimeters in diameter, about the size of a
walnut. It is located beneath the urinary bladder, and
directly in front of the rectum. A portion of the prostate
gland engulfs the upper part of the urethra, the tube in which urine
exits the body from.
Within the prostate gland are hundreds of smaller glands each packed
with thousands of cells that are responsible for creating an alkaline
fluid that eventually contributes to the individual’s
semen. Semen is made up of both sperm and several seminal
fluids, made by the prostate gland and two other nearby
glands. The fluid made by the prostate contains fructose and
is slightly basic and is therefore both an energy supply to be utilized
by the sperm and a protective shield against the mild acids present in
the vagina.
Fluid production by the prostate is controlled by the male sexual
hormones testosterone, made by the testes; dehydroepiandrosterone, made
in the adrenal glands; and dihydrotestosterone made in the prostate
itself. These hormones are also called
‘androgens’, and are also responsible for a
man’s sex drive and secondary sex characteristics, such as
facial hair, a lower voice, and increased muscle mass.
There are three common disorders in men that affect the
prostate. The first is prostate cancer, a malignant tumor of
the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the most common form
of cancer in men, but if caught in the early stages is usually not
fatal. It is most prevalent in men over the age of
50. Early stages of the disease usually have no symptoms, but
eventually the added size to the gland may begin to impinge on the
urethra, causing urinary problems such as pain, or blood in the
urine. A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test can often
detect prostate cancer even in its early stages, and is therefore a
good test for a man over 50 to undergo regularly.
Another common prostate disorder that can mimic prostate cancer is
called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. BPH is basically
a condition in which the prostate enlarges and impinges on the urethra,
much like it would in the middle stages of prostate cancer, causing
difficulty urinating, frequent urges to urinate, and pain while
urinating. Simple tests can be done to determine if an
individual is suffering from BPH or prostate cancer. BPH is
not fatal, does not lead to cancer, and a number of treatments are
available today to alleviate the symptoms.
Finally, the prostate itself is vulnerable to infection. The
same bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also
infect the prostate, leading to prostatitis. Prostatitis
usually involves some of the same symptoms involved in BPH with respect
to urinary difficulties, yet is usually also accompanied by fever,
chills, and pain in the lower back. Like most bacterial
infections, prostatitis is usually treated with antibiotics.
››
A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
