There
are three main types of prostate problem - inflammation, benign enlargement, and
cancer - and each will be accompanied by a variety of symptoms that overlap to
some degree.Prostate Problems
Questions Received:
Responses:
Could you please tell us the symptoms of prostate problems?
26th February 1999
There
are three main types of prostate problem - inflammation, benign enlargement, and
cancer - and each will be accompanied by a variety of symptoms that overlap to
some degree.
Inflammation (Prostatitis)
This can be acute or chronic, and of bacterial or non-bacterial origin. Acute prostatitis may be accompanied by fever, chills, low back pain, pain in the genital region, pain or difficulty in passing urine (dysuria), and spasm of the outflow passage (urethra). The diagnosis can be made by rectal examination and testing of the urine for infectious organisms. Prostatitis is treated with antibacterial drugs, bed rest, plenty of fluids, and analgesia if required. Chronic prostatitis is evidenced by bouts of the above symptoms punctuated by periods of apparent normality.
Benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
Fifty percent of men over 50 years of age have an enlarging prostate. It can result in obstruction of the bladder neck and urethra, with the following symptoms:
Having to get up at night to pass urine (nocturia). This can lead to a change in behaviour in that a man may avoid drinking any fluids several hours before retiring
Having to empty the bladder more frequently. Again, this can lead to a man avoiding any kind of activity that may prevent him from having reasonable access to a toilet - long coach journeys for example
Difficulty in starting to pass urine. The flow of urine may also be weak
Terminal dribbling
Dribbling urine when coughing, laughing or sitting up. This can develop if the bladder wall becomes weak (atonic) leading to an increase in the residual volume of urine
In a small percentage of men with prostatic disease acute retention may develop. This will necessitate catheterisation, clinical examination and full investigation
Pain is uncommon. The condition can be treated by surgical resection.
Cancer of the prostate
The early symptoms are non-specific and linked with obstruction of the outflow
from the bladder, so will resemble the symptoms described above for benign
enlargement. Diagnosis is made by blood test, rectal examination (perhaps with
ultrasound), and needle biopsy. Treatment will depend on how early the diagnosis
is made and how much spreading of the cancer cells has occurred. Like other
cancers, the options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
If you are concerned about the emergence of some of the symptoms described
above, we would recommend that you visit your doctor so that a diagnosis can be
made and treatment instituted if required.
The doctor hospitalized me for 2 days for prostate infection. I am 37 yrs. old. Please send me information about the prostate. I know nothing about it.
19th March 1999
The prostate gland is situated below the bladder. It is doughnut-shaped and made up of a mixture of secretory and fibromuscular tissues. Its main function is to add secretions to the semen at the time of ejaculation, contributing 20-30% by volume. Prostatic fluid is alkaline, and one of its functions is to neutralise the acidic secretions of the vagina in order to encourage activity of the spermatozoa. Other contributions to semen come from the seminal vesicles (60-70%) and from the sperm-containing fluid produced in the testes and epididymis (less than 5%), both of which reach the urethra via the ejaculatory ducts which pass through the prostate from behind. There is also a small contribution to the semen from the bulbo-urethral glands below the prostate. The urethra passes through the prostate, conveying urine and semen to the outside.
There are three main types of prostate problem - inflammation, benign enlargement, and cancer. In your case, the problem was caused by an infection which resulted in inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). It was probably treated with antibacterial drugs, bed rest, plenty of fluids, and analgesia to reduce the pain.
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Diagrammatic Section Through the Prostate
The glandular prostate tissue surrounds the urethra (shown as a pale inverted V in section) and channels secretions into it via ducts.
Planes of fibromuscular tissue are shown in dark blue.
Are there exercises to help keep a healthy prostate?
6th April 1999
Exercise in a general sense, and more particularly aerobic exercise, appears to protect against prostate problems such as cancer (Oliveria and Lee, 1997; Hartman et al 1998; Kiningham, 1998). However, we have not yet identified any specific exercises that promote prostatic health. Although it might be expected that regular ejaculation might be beneficial for prostatic function, there is no clear evidence at this time to support or reject this hypothesis.
For comprehensive coverage of issues relating to the prostate, visit www.prostatehealth.com, where you will also find links to other prostate-related sources.
References
Hartman, T.J. et al. (1998) Physical activity and prostate cancer in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study (Finland). Cancer Causes and Control, 9(1), 11-18 (Jan).
Kiningham, R.B. (1998) Physical activity and the primary prevention of cancer. Primary Care, 25(2), 515-536 (Jun).
Oliveria, S.A., and Lee, I.M. (1997) Is exercise beneficial in the prevention of prostate cancer? Sports Medicine, 23(5), 271-278 (May).