Especially after the age of 40, men undergo continual bodily changes which affect the prostate, causing a growth spurt and changes to this gland. This can eventually lead to uncomfortable symptoms and a common condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged, swollen prostate gland. The symptoms caused by this condition include frequent nighttime urination, difficulty in urinating, pain and other discomforts.
This disorder is common: 50 percent of men in their forties experience prostate problems such as BPH, while one in 11 North American men over the age of 50 will develop prostate cancer. At the age of 80 years those afflicted increases to 85 percent. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
What is the Prostate Gland?
The prostate is a chestnut-sized male gland that produces the fluid that mixes with semen to produce seminal fluid. It lies between the bladder and rectum, around the urethra, a tube that leads from the bladder to the outside of the body.
When the prostate enlarges, it can tighten around the urethra, putting pressure on it and making it difficult to urinate, just as bending a garden hose would stop or hinder the flow of water. This causes trickling when urinating and frequent urination. Repeated urging is usually most obvious at night, as one must get out of bed several times to urinate.
Read Causes of Prostate Problems to understand other diseases and disorders of the prostate.
Urinary and Bladder Problems in Men
Difficulties in urination mean that the bladder is only being partly emptied. This increases the risk for the development of urinary stones and urinary tract infections. If the bladder overfills with urine due to improper emptying, the condition can lead to kidney disorders, in very severe cases. If other signs of an enlarged prostate are ignored and incontinence (leaking bladder) develops, the bladder is likely overfilled. A fever, pain or burning sensations during urination always suggest an inflammation.
What is BPH and Prostate Cancer?
Most prostate problems occur in men near or over the age of fifty as benign (non-cancerous) growth, chronic inflammation or as a cancerous malignant tumor. A prostate inflammation, called prostatitis, may develop slowly with no noticeable signs or suddenly, causing severe symptoms. BPH itself is not always serious and can resolve itself in mild cases. Symptoms appear gradually once the prostate reaches a size where it interferes with the release of urine through the urethra.
The symptoms of prostate cancer are more vague than other prostate conditions and may be absent for a long time. To allow for early detection and better recourse for treatment all men over fifty should have yearly check-ups. When symptoms emerge, they are similar to other prostate problems. Cancer of the prostate is one of the most common cancers in men. The good news is, this type of cancer grows relatively slowly and may remain dormant in some cases.
Symptoms of Prostate Disease
When a prostate disorder develops slowly, there may be very mild or unnoticeable symptoms and little discomfort. In other cases, symptoms that may indicate prostate conditions include:
- A severe infection with pain in the pelvic area often after a urinary tract infection.
- Fever and chills
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the pelvic or groin
- A strong urge to urinate
- Frequent urges to urinate
- A sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
- Pain or a burning sensation during urination
- Blood or pus in the urine
Don’t ignore symptoms; see your doctor regularly. Both prostate enlargement and cancer are linked to hormonal changes that occur as men get older, similar to the menopausal changes in women.
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