The Prostate and prostatitis
The prostate is a gland which is only found in men. Situated just below the bladder and behind the front wall of the rectum, it is usually about 2.5cm across its area.
The main function of the prostate is to produce a fluid which helps to make up the more important parts of seminal fluid. The urethra (which carry’s urine) runs all the way through the centre of the prostate gland.
There are three major conditions which can affect the prostate gland, they are
* Enlargement of the prostate
* Frequent urination
* Pain on ejaculation.
It is usually as men get older that they start to suffer problems with their prostate, though younger men can also be affected. Unfortunately about half of men over the age of 50 will have a problem with their prostate at some point in their lives.
Enlargement and cancer of the prostate usually affects men over the age of 50, though again younger men can be affected.
Treatment for prostate disease is varied and dependent on how severe the symptoms are, however they can include surgery and lifestyle changes.
A common reason for enlargement of the prostate is a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. It is very common for the prostate to become enlarged as a man gets older, it’s a nuisance but not serious.
If a prostate gland is enlarged, it may squeeze the urethra and result in the urine stream being compromised. This results in an urgent need to urinate followed by a degree of leakage. The man may also experience frequency of micturition especially at night.
Another reason for frequent urination could be recent surgery or radiation to treat cancer of the prostate. These can be either temporary or permanent problems.
The most common problem in men under 50 affecting their prostate is an inflammation called prostatitis.
There are four types of prostatitis they are
* Acute bacterial prostatitis
* Chronic bacterial prostatitis
* Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
* Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis
Acute bacterial prostatitis is the least common of the types but is the easiest to cure. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is also relatively rare and is more difficult to treat. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a very common problem with difficult to treat symptoms, and Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis is a condition where the man does not realise he has prostate problems because he is completely asymptomatic.
Technorati Tags : prostate prostatitis chronic common
Possibly related posts:
