The health of the prostate is dependent on the complex interaction of male hormones such as testosterone and the various cell types that make up the gland. Various health issues of varying seriousness are associated with the prostate throughout male adulthood. Primary prostate problems include prostatitis, enlarged prostate (BPH), and prostate cancer.
Prostatitis is the primary cause of urinary difficulties among younger and middle aged men. This condition is usually treated with antibiotics, although the most common form, non-bacterial prostatitis, is not completely understood and may not respond to this treatment. Doctors will often adopt a watch and wait policy, and the condition will often clear up without treatment in time. For more information about prostatitis, consult our men's health links.
Enlarged Prostate, or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common of prostate symptoms, and is largely an inevitable part of the aging process. Most men over 50 years of age have this condition to some degree. The enlarged prostate constricts the urethra and affects urinary flow. For more information, consult our BPH area.
Prostate Cancer is one of the most frequent forms of cancer in American men. Left untreated, cancer in the prostate can spread to other parts of the body and eventually cause death. However, with early detection most prostate cancer is treatable, and advanced methods allow most men to resume a normal life after prostate cancer treatment. Prostate cancer can be detected in its early stages by digital rectal exam (DRE) and a blood test for the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The American Urologic Association recommends that all men over the age of 50 have an annual DRE and PSA test. For more prostate cancer information, see our men's health links.