At birth, a newborn’s prostate gland measures roughly the size and weight of a pea. On average, until around age 45 it remains relatively stable. As men age, questions like “What Size of Prostate is Dangerous” become pertinent. As your prostate enlarges, it may exert pressure on the urethra, resulting in urinary symptoms like frequent or decreased urine flow. Urologists can provide treatments, including BPH support supplements, that will alleviate these problems effectively.
Symptoms
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ located within the male reproductive system. It rests below the bladder and in front of the rectum, helping produce semen – an essential fluid that transports sperm through the penis at sexual climax. As men age, their prostates may grow larger; usually without cause; but when this enlargement becomes excessive it may lead to symptoms and other issues known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.
BPH typically manifests in frequent needing to urinate at night. You may also observe slower-than-usual urine production or difficulty starting a flow. Urethra tubes transport urine from bladder to penis through prostate gland. When the prostate enlarges it can squeeze urethra tubes and thus impede or even stop urine flow through these passageways, leading to blocked or restricted urinary flow.
An overly-large prostate can produce a painful burning sensation when you urinate and also lead to leakage of urine – you might notice drops dripping onto your underwear after each time you urinate.
An enlarged prostate could have various causes, from inflammation of the prostate (called prostatitis ) and cancer to urinary tract stones and urinary tract infection. If you suspect you have an enlarged prostate, speak to your physician about treatment options for prostate enlargement, including surgeries or therapies such as hydrocoele extractions.
Diagnosis
As men age, their prostate gland grows larger to cause urinary symptoms known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. It affects around 50% of men over 50 and 90% of those 85+ and doesn’t increase cancer or sexual issues but may make urination embarrassing and difficult.
Health care providers can quickly assess your prostate by conducting a digital rectal exam (DRE). While lying back, the health care professional inserts their gloved finger into your rectum to detect signs of enlargement, tenderness, lumps or hard spots in its back wall – this examination takes only 10-15 seconds and is painless! A DRE may help determine if symptoms stem from small amounts of cancer, large tumors or inflammation.
Doctors typically request a urine sample in order to screen for infections or conditions that could be contributing to your frequent, irritating urination. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures the levels of testosterone hormone, providing insight into how rapidly your prostate is growing and your risk for prostate cancer. Cystoscopy and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) may also provide useful imagery of both bladder and prostate structures.
Treatment
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland situated just in front of and above the rectum. It produces seminal fluid to feed sperm as they ejaculate. Furthermore, it surrounds part of the urethra which transports urine out through the penis to reach its destination – all within its vicinity. Ordinarily, as men age due to natural hormonal changes, their prostate grows steadily with them; however, in rare instances it may enlarge and cause symptoms. This condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH and symptoms can include slow or incomplete starting urine flow, frequent night time urinations needing to be done more often, dribbling after urinating as well as feeling like their bladder has not been fully empty yet.
BPH does not increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer or other problems; most with mildly enlarged prostates do not experience bothersome symptoms; if symptoms do become bothersome, lifestyle modifications and medications may provide relief; surgery is also available as a solution for men who do not find relief through other means.
Doctors take into account how men might feel as well as its effectiveness when selecting treatments, such as changing drug dosage or diet and engaging in physical activities to ease symptoms. Men should speak with their physicians about their goals, the likelihood of treatment success and any side effects experienced; this type of collaborative decision-making allows for informed discussion between two parties involved with shared decision making.
Prevention
As men age, their prostate grows gradually but is rarely noticeable until men in their 30s or 40s begin experiencing urinary symptoms. An enlarged prostate, more commonly referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can squeeze the urethra and create issues when it comes time to urinating; sometimes even leading to kidney failure in severe cases.
BPH is the leading cause of lower urinary tract symptoms among middle-aged and older men, occurring when noncancerous cells in the prostate expand as non-cancerous cells multiply, expanding its size. While BPH doesn’t increase risk for prostate cancer, it can still produce urinary symptoms and reduce quality of life for these individuals.
Signs of an enlarged prostate include frequent urination, weak or incomplete urine flow and awakening during the night to use the toilet. People experiencing severe symptoms should seek treatment as soon as possible in order to avoid further problems.
Digital rectal examination (DRE) can be used to diagnose prostate enlargement by performing a digital rectal examination (DRE). With gloved and lubricated fingers, doctors feel for an enlarged prostate through the rectum – this may be painful for some men. An alternative, called transurethral resection of the prostate (TUVP), can be performed under local or general anesthesia and involves doctors extracting small sections of prostate with resectoscope to reduce symptoms without incisions or catheters being needed – thus relieving symptoms without needing incisions or catheters being necessary.