Prostate problems

An introduction to prostate problems

The most common health condition affecting the prostate is the simple enlargement of the gland. Symptoms of prostate enlargement become more common with increasing age and by 70, the majority of men will have signs of the problem.

Although not as commonly seen as prostate enlargement, the prostate condition that gets a lot of attention these days is prostate cancer, another condition more commonly seen in the older man.

Lastly, there is a condition known as prostatitis. Unlike the other two, this condition usually affects the a younger person.

Enlarged prostate

An enlarged prostate, also known as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or Hypertrophy) is a common problem and it is estimated that the condition affects 50% of men over 50 years of age. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:

• A need to urinate frequently
• Having to get up at night to urinate
• Poor stream or urine flow
• Difficulty stopping or starting when urinating
• A feeling of urgency when needing toilet.

Prostate enlargement is not usually a serious problem but symptoms experienced can affect a man’s quality of life by interrupting his sleep (and that of his partner), and the inconvenience of always needing the toilet, especially when on days out or travelling.

There are now a variety of ways of treating an enlarged prostate, including the use of medicines prescribed by the doctor as well as surgery. The condition can also be treated using Saw Palmetto herb and this is gaining popularity, particularly in men seeking an alternative to the more conventional methods of treatment.

Prostate cancer

This is the prostate problem that is often in the news. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men and accounts for up to 1 in 4 new cases of cancer in the UK. The problem occurs more frequently in men over 70 years of age and those of African or Afro-Caribbean descent.

Prostate cancer often does not give rise to symptoms and when it does, these can appear identical to symptoms of prostate enlargement which is also more commonly seen in the older man.

It is because of this that, if you are experiencing bladder symptoms and think that you have an enlarged prostate, you must get the diagnosis confirmed by your doctor who will also perform tests to exclude prostate cancer:

• An examination of the prostate through the back passage will allow the doctor to look for any suspicious lumps and bumps on the prostate
• A blood test to measure the levels of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in the blood can be used to determine the likelihood of prostate cancer.

If these tests are inconclusive, your doctor may refer you to an urologist at your local hospital for specialist opinion and further tests.

Prostate cancer, especially if detected early enough, can be cured using modern cancer therapies. This is the reason that it is part and parcel of screening tests and examinations.

Prostatitis

Unlike the enlarged prostate and prostate cancer, prostatitis is a condition which affects men of all ages. Although more common in those between 20 and 40 years of age, the problem can also affect the older man.

Prostatitis gives rise to:

• Pain in the pelvic area and testicles
• Pain on urinating or during ejaculation
• Pain in the perineum (area around the scrotum and anus) made worse when sitting on hard chairs or stools, or on a bicycle saddle.

The cause of prostatitis is poorly understood. What we know is that the prostate becomes inflamed and it used to be thought that this was due to infection – one of the treatments recommended for this problem in the past was antibiotics.

However, many cases of prostatitis do not show any evidence of infection and it is now thought that other triggers of inflammation (including an autoimmune response) may be responsible.

For some more information, see our page on 'What is prostatitis?'.