Prostate
Enlargement
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located
just below the bladder, in front of the rectum. About the size
and shape of a walnut, it weighs only about one ounce. The gland
wraps around the urethra, a tube that carried urine from the bladder
and out through the penis. The main purpose of the prostate is
to produce semen, which is squeezed out through it during orgasm.
Prostate enlargement is a medical condition affecting the prostate
in male patients.
Most men experience some prostate enlargement and in fact it
is quite normal for it 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, it will begin to grow again. At this stage in life, prostate
enlargement rarely presents any problems. It is only much later
in life, usually after age 50, that prostate enlargement begins
to spell trouble.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH,
is the medical term used to describe a prostate enlargement. This
disorder of the 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 prostate
enlargement is present, there is a gradual squeezing of the urethra,
which can make urinating difficult and painful. Despite this fact,
many patients who suffer from prostate enlargement 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 enlargement 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 prostate enlargement.
An annual rectal exam is the most important and affective way
to detect prostate enlargement, even though the process itself
can be a bit uncomfortable. Many patients exhibit no signs or
symptoms at all when from prostate enlargement and in this case
it can only be detected through an annual rectal exam.
Doctors have not been able to isolate a single factor as a cause
for prostate enlargement; 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 prostate enlargement. Prostate
enlargement does not always lead to cancer. While cancer of that
gland and other urogenital disorders may interfere with a patient's
sexual function, prostate enlargement usually does not cause any
sexual dysfunction.
Each year almost 400,000 men are admitted to the hospital for
problems resulting from prostate enlargement. By age 60, more
than one half of all men ill experience prostate enlargement and
by age 70 that percentage climbs to 90 percent.
If a doctor finds an abnormality of the 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 prostate enlargement.
There are a number of treatment options available for patients
who suffer from prostate enlargement. 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 prostate enlargement. Heat is sometimes
used in order to destroy excess tissue which may be affecting
the enlarged gland. In some cases the doctor may be able to treat
the prostate enlargement 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 entire problem
area, 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 mass is
affected during the surgery. Some cases require the removal of
the entire gland, which will generally lead to infertility and
the inability to achieve an erection.
In addition to traditional treatments for prostate enlargement
there are also a number of all natural and homeopathic products
on the market which are advertised to treat an prostate enlargement.
Saw Palmetto has been marketed for years as an aid to cure these
ills. 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 cancer.
Researchers have been studying the cause of prostate enlargement
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 prostate enlargement, increasing
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 prostate
enlargement.
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