Conditions of the Prostate

Conditions of the Prostate

The prostate is a small reproductive gland located in front of the rectum and below the bladder in men. Its main purpose is the production and secretion of semen, the fluid that carries sperm during sexual climax. As a man ages, the prostate gradually enlarges. Excessive growth, inflammation, infection or other problems with the prostate are common, especially in men over 50, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a condition of the prostate gland that is sometimes caused by bacteria, but more commonly it is non-bacterial. The NIH reports that at least half of all men will have prostatitis at some point. Prostatitis causes symptoms of difficult and painful urination, low back pain, fever, pain in the genital and pelvic areas, and painful ejaculation. There are several types of prostatitis.

Non-bacterial prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is the most common type of prostatitis, Merck Manuals Medical Library notes. Men of any age can be affected. The condition is marked by pain in the groin. Sometimes there may be difficulty urinating.

Acute bacterial prostatitis is usually caused by E. coli, klebsiella or chlamydia organisms. Symptoms are similar to a urinary tract infection with fever, fatigue and body aches. There may be an increase in the urgency and frequency of urination. Sometimes there is blood in the urine. Antibiotics, pain relievers and bed rest are the usual treatments.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a much milder condition than the acute form, and involves episodes of infections that come and go. Treatment recommendations call for antibiotics, pain relievers and soothing treatments such as sitz baths.

Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis is a condition that is sometimes discovered during an exam for some other problem. As the name implies, there are no symptoms, but white blood cells are seen in the urine upon urinalysis. The Merck Manuals Medical Library states that no treatment is needed for this type of prostatitis

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

When there is an overgrowth of prostate tissue, it is termed benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. This is not a cancerous condition and is common in older men. Enlargement of the gland causes it to press on the bladder and urethra, resulting in an increased urge to urinate, especially at night. It can also cause difficulty urinating, with a decrease in the flow or strength of the urine stream. Drugs to help increase the flow of urine are usually used. Surgery may be needed if drug therapy fails.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a condition of abnormal prostate cell growth that results in a tumor. Most older men have some degree of prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Symptoms usually arise only after the disease has become more advanced and include straining while trying to urinate, a weak urine stream and dribbling of urine after the stream stops. There may be blood in the urine, as well. This type of cancer generally grows very slowly and treatment is usually successful. If allowed to grow unchecked, prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Even after it has spread, the disease is often manageable with proper treatment.

surce : www.livestrong.com