Spotting The Symptoms Of Prostate Problems

Strange as it may appear for years men knew little about their prostate gland and it is only in the past few years as prostate cancer has gained in prominence that men are beginning to ask what the prostate gland is and what its function is.

The prostate gland is a vital component of a man's reproductive system that produces a clear liquid that makes up a significant portion of male seminal fluid. Sperm is taken from the testicles up to the prostate gland where it is mixed with proteins and prostatic fluid to form semen.

A normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, weighs in at about one ounce and lies just in front of the rectum and below the bladder. It is also regularly described as being donut shaped and is partially wrapped around the urethra, which carries urine out of the body from the bladder.

Through a man's life the prostate gland grows, although from the early twenties until the mid-forties growth is very slow and is almost undetectable. When a man gets to approximately forty-five however it is very common for the growth of the prostate gland to speed up and most men will begin to experience the symptoms of a growing prostate during their forties or fifties.

In very many cases a growing prostate leads to little more than some mild discomfort that a lot of men simply learn to live with. In some cases however the gland can become sufficiently enlarged so that it restricts the urethra enough to produce a variety of symptoms that need treatment or persuade a man to ask for treatment to relieve his discomfort. Growth of the prostate gland at this point in a man's life is simply a normal part of the aging process and is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BHP.

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

When the prostate gland starts to grow it also begins to put pressure on the urethra and to narrow it so that the first signs of a problem are generally seen when it comes to urinating. In particular you might experience a difficulty in passing water and need to 'push' in order to start the process. You may also experience a weak urine flow and a flow that tends to stop and start. After a while you will also find that you need to visit the bathroom more frequently, especially at night, and that you feel that you need to visit the bathroom even after you have just done so.

Understandably this can become something of a an irritation to say the least but but, nonetheless, a lot of men are content to simply view it as one of the inevitable problems of aging and learn to live with it. There is nothing wrong with such a decision but the mistake which all too man men make is not to consult their doctor at this stage to establish that the problem is just BPH and that it is unlikely to cause other problems.

Aside from the obvious risk of the possibility of an underlying cancer, BPH can also result in other problems like bladder infections and kidney disease.

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