Just What Is The Prostate And What Are The Signs Of Prostate Problems?

It may seem odd but for many years men knew little if anything about their prostate and it is only in recent years as prostate cancer has become such a prominent issue that men are starting to ask just what the prostate is and what it does.

The prostate is a vital component of the male reproductive system which produces a clear liquid which makes up a significant portion of male seminal fluid. Sperm is transported from the testes up to the prostate where it is mixed with prostatic fluid and proteins to make semen.

A normal prostate is approximately the size of a walnut, weighs in at approximately one ounce and sits just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is also often described as being shaped something like a donut and partly wraps around the urethra, which carries urine out of the body from the bladder.

The prostate gland grows throughout a man's life, although from the age of about twenty until the mid-forties this growth is extremely slow and to all intent and purpose undetectable. Once a man gets to approximately forty-five however it is common for the growth of the prostate to speed up and most men will start to experience the symptoms of an enlarging gland during their forties or fifties.

In many cases an enlarging gland produces little more than some mild discomfort which many men choose to learn to live with. In some cases however the gland may become sufficiently enlarged so that it restricts the urethra enough to cause various symptoms which require treatment or persuade a man to ask for treatment to relieve his discomfort. Growth of the prostate at this point in a man's life is a normal part of the aging process and is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BHP.

In all cases however the biggest danger with an enlarged prostate is that the problem may be something more than a simple case of enlargement and could be masking the growth of an underlying cancer.

As the prostate grows it also starts to put pressure on the urethra and to narrow this particular tube so that the first signs of a developing problem are generally seen when it comes to urinating. In particular you might experience difficulty in passing water and experience the need to 'strain' to start the process. You may also suffer a weak flow of urine and a flow which has a tendency to stop and start. After a while you will also find that you have to visit the bathroom more frequently, particularly at night, and that you feel as though you have to visit the bathroom even just after you have just done so.

Not surprisingly this could become something of a nuisance to say the least but but, nonetheless, many men are happy to simply put it down as one of the difficulties of getting older and learn to live with it. There is nothing wrong with such a decision but the mistake which far too man men make is not to turn to their doctor at this stage to confirm that their problem is simply BPH and that it is unlikely to cause other problems in their particular case.

Aside from the clear risk of their being an underlying cancer, BPH can also lead to other difficulties like bladder infections and kidney disease.

When you begin to experience symptoms which suggest a developing prostate problem then consult your doctor so that the problem can be diagnosed.

ProstateProblemCenter.com provides information on various prostate problems and also provides advice on having a prostate exam