The prostate gland is located below the bladder, in front of the scrotum. It consists of connective and glandular tissues. It adds fluid to semen and uses muscles to force it through your urethra. Some of the conditions that may affect your prostate are cancer, prostatitis, and prostatic hyperplasia. You may be experiencing prostate problems and would like to learn more about its cancer symptoms, risk factors, the PSA screening test, and non-cancer illnesses such as enlarged prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland caused by bacterial infections. It affects at least half of all males at some point. This condition does not increase your risk of developing other prostate diseases.
Signs and symptoms of prostatitis can vary depending on the type of disorder. They may include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Pain in the stomach, groin, or lower back
- Painful or burning sensation while urinating (Dysuria)
- Difficulty urinating, such as dribble or reluctant urine
- Urgent need to urinate
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine
- Pain between the scrotum and rectum (perineum)
- Penile or testicular pain
- Painful ejaculation
- Fever, chills, muscle aches, and other flu-like symptoms (associated with acute bacterial prostatitis)
Causes of Prostatitis
- Common bacterial strains typically cause acute bacterial prostatitis. The infection could have spread from other urinary or reproductive systems areas.
- An acute bacterial infection usually causes chronic bacterial prostatitis. It can happen when the treatment for an acute infection is insufficient or doesn’t kill all the bacteria.
- Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic discomfort condition is poorly understood. It can be caused by prior infection, neurological system malfunction, immune system dysfunction, psychological stress, and irregular hormone activity.
- Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis has no known cause and is typically discovered during an examination for another medical problem. It cannot be treated.
Enlarged Prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign indicates “not cancer” but hyperplasia denotes improper cell growth. The end outcome is an enlarged prostate. BPH is not linked to cancer and does not raise your risk of getting prostate cancer; yet the symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer are often identical.
At its worst, BPH can lead to a weak bladder, urine backflow that leads to bladder or kidney infections, a complete obstruction in the passage of urine, and kidney failure.
Symptoms of BPH may include:
- Dribbling after urine
- Frequently peeing at night
- Having trouble starting to pee
- Peeing more frequently at night
- Weak urine flow or a stream that stops and starts
- Unable to completely empty the bladder
When to See a Doctor
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms, even if they don’t bother you. It’s critical to determine whether any causes can be treated. Without proper treatment, the chance of a severe urinary system blockage increases. If you cannot pass urine, get medical attention immediately.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is among the most frequent types of cancer. Many prostate tumours progress slowly and are limited to the prostate gland, where they may not cause significant harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer develop slowly and require little or no treatment, others are aggressive and spread rapidly. Early detection of prostate cancer, while it is still restricted to the prostate gland, gives the highest chance of successful therapy.
Symptoms
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
Prostate cancer that’s more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Trouble urinating
- Bone Pain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Blood in the urine
- Blood in the semen
- Weight loss
Tests to Examine Prostate Problems
The common tests that check your prostate health issues are as follows:
- Digital rectal exam: Your healthcare provider puts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel the prostate gland. Bumps or hard regions could signify cancer.
- Prostate-specific antigen blood test: Your prostate produces a protein-specific antigen (PSA) protein. Elevated PSA levels may suggest a problem. PSA levels may increase if you have BPH or prostatitis.
- Biopsy: To obtain a sample of your prostate tissue, your healthcare professional will use a needle. A healthcare provider will analyse the sample under a microscope in a laboratory.
Conclusion
Your prostate’s primary role is to produce fluids in your sperm and pass it through your urethra when you ejaculate. Your prostate will most certainly become larger as you age. Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men. After the age of 50, it is recommended that you have frequent prostate screenings. If you observe any symptoms of a prostate condition, consult your doctor and get yourself tested at the earliest for prostate treatment.
