The prostate is a gland that sits in the between a male's hips in the pelvic region. It is located between the anus and the penis and under the bladder and is responsible for producing the semen containing fluid that is expelled during an ejaculation.

Although the prostate is only about the size of a walnut, there are four primary zones to the prostate. The peripheral zone is the section that can generally be felt during a rectal exam, particularly when the patient has an enlarged prostate.

An annual rectal exam is the most important and affective way to detect an enlarged prostate, even thought the process itself can be a bit uncomfortable. Many patients exhibit no signs or symptoms at all when they have an enlarged prostate and in this case it can only be detected through an annual rectal exam.

Most men experience some form of an enlarged prostate and in fact it is quite normal for the prostate to become larger, to a certain degree. Generally, healthy males experience a growth in their prostate gland when they first enter puberty. A few years later, at around age 25, the prostate will begin to grow again. At this stage in life, an enlarged prostate rarely presents any problems. It is only much later in life, usually after age 50, that an enlarged prostate begins to spell trouble.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland. This disorder of the prostate gland generally occurs in men who are over the age of 50, although cases in younger men have been diagnosed, particularly those who are of African-American descent. When the prostate gland is enlarged, there is a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which can make urinating difficult and painful. Despite this fact, many patients who suffer from an enlarged prostate experience no symptoms at all. Patients who do experience symptoms may recognize a difficulty in starting urination, frequent urination as well as an increased frequency in awakening at night to urinate.

Usually the urethra becomes blocked by the enlarged prostate and the patient may also experience repeated urinary tract infections as a result. A sudden inability to urinate as well as bladder and/or kidney damage may also result from an enlarged prostate.

Doctors have not been able to isolate a single factor as a cause for an enlarge prostate, however men who are over the age of 50, have a history of prostate disease or who are of African-American ancestry may be at risk for developing an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is not the only disorder of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer and death among American men. An enlarged prostate does not always lead to prostate cancer, however. While prostate cancer and other prostate gland disorders may interfere with a patient's sexual function, an enlarged prostate gland usually does not cause any sexual dysfunction.

Each year almost 400,000 men are admitted to the hospital for some form of an enlarged prostate. By age 60, more than one half of all men ill experience an enlarged prostate and by age 70 that percentage climbs to 90 percent.

If a doctor finds an abnormality of the prostate gland during an exam, he or she will usually order blood tests to determine if levels of a certain antigen have risen. Higher levels may indicate that this is some type of disorder present, including an enlarged prostate.

There are a number of treatment options available for patients who suffer from an enlarged prostate gland. In some cases, the symptoms may lessen on their own without active intervention. Medications as well as treatment options that are non-surgical may also help to alleviate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland. Heat is sometimes used in order to destroy excess tissue which may be affecting the enlarged prostate. In some cases the doctor may be able to treat the enlarged prostate with no surgery whatsoever. When the doctor feels the case is serious enough, however surgery may be required.

Some surgical options require the removal of the enlarged prostate, which will allow for better long term results and pain alleviation for the patient, while others rely only on removing the excess tissue. Patients should be aware that there are serious side effects related to surgical options, including further urinary problems as well as a loss of sexual function. The risks and side effects of surgery generally depend on how much of the enlarged prostate gland is affected during the surgery. Some cases require the removal of the entire prostate, which will generally lead to infertility and the inability to achieve an erection.

There are also a number of all natural and homeopathic products on the market which are advertised to treat an enlarged prostate. Saw Palmetto has been marketed for years as an aid to cure an enlarged prostate. While these products may provide some relief of the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate it is still important for patients to seek the counsel of a qualified medical professional to insure that no other issues are present as well, such as prostate cancer.

Researchers have been studying the cause of enlarged prostate problems for years and while they have come much closer in understanding the reasons why older men seem to suffer from such problems, the real cause remains elusive. It has been noted, as far back as hundreds of years ago, that men who were castrated before they reached puberty, experienced no such problems with an enlarged prostate. Today, it is also widely recognized that testosterone, the main male hormone, plays a significant role in the development of an enlarged prostate. Usually as a man grows older the amount of active testosterone in his system decreases which results in a higher level of estrogen. It is believed that the higher levels of estrogen may contribute to an enlarged prostate increases the activity of other substances which promote cell growth. DHT, otherwise known as dihydrotestosterone, is a substance that is converted from testosterone in the prostate. It is theorized that higher levels of DHT may also contribute to the development of an enlarged prostate.