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Prostate

The prostate is a small gland in the male body that plays an important role in reproduction. It can be affected by various conditions, especially in older age.

Contents

Quick version

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is part of the male reproductive system, located just below the bladder and surrounding the upper part of the urethra. The prostate's main function is to produce some of the fluid that makes up semen.

Prostate Function

The prostate produces a nutrient-rich secretion that protects and improves sperm motility. During ejaculation, muscles in the prostate contract to help push the semen out through the urethra.

Common Prostate Diseases

The three most common conditions are benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), prostatitis (inflammation), and prostate cancer. These can cause varying symptoms and require different treatments.

Symptoms of prostate problems

Common symptoms include difficulty urinating, a weak urine stream, frequent urination, especially at night, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area may also occur with prostate problems.

Diagnosis and tests

Doctors can examine the prostate via rectal palpation, PSA blood test, and sometimes ultrasound, biopsy, or a MRI scan of the prostate. The PSA test is often used to detect signs of prostate cancer but is not entirely specific.

Treatment of prostate diseases

Treatment varies depending on the diagnosis. An enlarged prostate is often treated with medication or surgery. Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. Prostate cancer may require treatment with radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, or active monitoring.

Relevant symptoms

  • Weak or interrupted urine stream
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Pain during urination or ejaculation
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Pelvic pain

Related conditions and diagnoses

  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Prostatitis
  • Prostate cancer
  • Urinary retention
  • Urinary tract infection

Questions and answers

The prostate is a small gland in men that produces fluid for semen.

The prostate is located below the bladder, around the upper part of the urethra.

In the early stages, there are often no symptoms, but later on, urinary problems and sometimes blood in the urine occur.

The PSA test is a blood test used to detect signs of prostate cancer, but it is not completely reliable. Elevated PSA levels can also be caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia or inflammation, and low levels do not rule out cancer. Therefore, the PSA test is often combined with other diagnostic methods to provide a more reliable assessment.

An enlarged prostate is a benign growth that can cause urinary problems.

Yes, prostatitis can sometimes go away on its own, but often treatment with antibiotics is required.

Yes, there is a hereditary component to prostate cancer.

One recommendation is to check the prostate around the age of 50, but if there is a family history of prostate problems, the prostate should be checked earlier.