Prostate Health
Men experience a high probability of prostate health problems as they grow older, including benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia--a putative precursor for cancer--and prostate cancer.
Risk factors for aberrant prostate growth include age, endocrine status, race, genetics, and environmental factors. In the United States, prostate cancer has become the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in men.
Common Problems
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Acute prostatitis is an infection of the prostate caused by bacteria. It usually starts fast and can cause fever, chills, or pain in the lower back and between the legs. It also can cause pain when you urinate. If you have these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Antibiotic drugs usually help heal the infection and relieve the symptoms. Your doctor also may suggest that you drink more liquids.
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Chronic prostatitis is a prostate infection that keeps coming back time after time. Symptoms may be milder than in acute prostatitis, but they can last longer. Chronic prostatitis can be hard to treat. Antibiotics may work if bacteria are causing the infection. But if bacteria are not the cause, antibiotics won't work. Massaging the prostate sometimes helps to release fluids. Warm baths also may bring relief. Often chronic prostatitis clears up by itself.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the term used to describe an enlarged prostate. BPH is common in older men. Over time, an enlarged prostate may block the urethra, making it hard to urinate. It may cause dribbling after you urinate or a frequent urge to urinate, especially at night. Your doctor will conduct a rectal exam to diagnose BPH. The doctor also may look at your urethra, prostate, and bladder.
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Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among American men. It is more common among African American men than white men. Treatment for prostate cancer works best when the disease is found early. Doctors will ask questions about your medical history and perform a physical exam to find the cause of prostate problems. In the exam, the doctor feels the prostate through the rectal wall. Hard or lumpy areas may mean that cancer is present. Your doctor also may suggest a blood test to check your prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. PSA levels may be high in men who have an enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer. PSA tests are very useful for early cancer diagnosis. But PSA test results alone do not always tell whether or not cancer is present. When doctors suspect cancer, they also may perform a biopsy. Using this simple method, doctors can take out a small piece of the prostate and look at it under a microscope.
These are the signs of prostate problems:
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Blood in urine or semen
- Painful or burning urination
- Difficulty in urinating
- Difficulty in having an erection
- Painful ejaculation
- Frequent pain or stiffness in lower back, hips or upper thighs
- Inability to urinate
- Dribbling of urine
