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Enlarged Prostate & Symptoms

The prostate is a male reproductive gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger and happens to almost all men as they age. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.
An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. It is not cancer and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Alternative Names

HPB; hypertrophy (hyperplasia) prostatic benign enlarged prostate

Causes, incidence and risk factors

No one knows the actual cause of prostate enlargement. It is believed that factors linked to aging and the testicles themselves may play a role in the growth of the gland. The men who had their testicles removed at an early age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH.

Similarly, if the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH, the prostate begins to shrink in size.
Some facts about prostate enlargement are:

  • The probability of developing enlarged prostate increases with age.
  • BPH is so common that it has said, "All men will have prostate enlargement if they live long enough."
  • A small degree of prostate enlargement is present in many men over age 40 and over 90% of men older than 80 years.
  • We have not identified risk factors other than having normally functioning testicles.

Symptoms

Less than half of men with BPH have symptoms of the enlarged prostate, which can include the following:

  • Difficulty starting to urinate
  • Weak urine stream
  • Urinary dribbling
  • Straining to urinate
  • Strong and sudden urge to urinate
  • Incomplete emptying of the bladder
  • Needing to urinate 2 or more times per night
  • Urinary retention (inability to urinate)
  • Incontinence
  • Painful urination or bloody urine (this may indicate infection)

Exams and Tests

After taking a complete medical history, your doctor will perform a rectal examination to palpate the prostate gland; Also, you can perform the following tests:

  • Urine flow rate
  • Analysis of Post-void residual urine to see how much urine is left in the bladder after urination
  • Pressure flow studies to measure the pressure in the bladder during urination
  • A PIV (X-ray study) to confirm BPH or look for blockage
  • Urinalysis to check for blood or infection
  • Urine culture to check for infection
  • ( PSA ) A blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer
  • Cystoscopy

Additionally, you may be asked to complete a form to evaluate the severity of symptoms and their impact on everyday life. The score of this assessment can be compared to past records to determine if the condition is worsening.

 

Just a sample of the articles from the article section of the site:
A New Genetic Test Prostate Cancer - Researchers have developed a new genetic test that can predict the predisposition of a particular case of cancer death. This method of diagnosis could help prevent tens of thousands of unnecessary surgeries every year.

Indications For Blood Analysis At PSA - For a valuable laboratory analysis of blood, which helps to diagnose the pathology of the prostate gland, is a test for PSA (prostate specific antigen).

Myths And Facts About Prostate Cancer -Myth: The elevated level of PSA in the blood means that you have prostate cancer. Normal PSA level suggests that prostate okay.

New prevent enlarged prostate treatment - A study led by John McConnell, Center of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, found that the combination of both drugs is more effective than each of them to prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia, according to an article this week publishes the magazine New England Journal of Medicine.

Structure And Function Of The Prostate - One of the major organs of the reproductive system of males. This small body size of a walnut and shape resembling a chestnut fruit is important for the normal composition of semen, and in addition, it produced some biologically active substances.

Significance of prostate problems - The prostate is a glandular organ muscular reproductive tract, which is located below the bladder surrounding the urethra and near the rectum.

Massage Of The Prostate: Techniques Of Erotic Massage - Prostate massage - known cure for prostatitis, intent upon a man closer to the 40th anniversary, and impotence, intent upon a man literally everywhere.

Epidemiology Of Prostate Cancer Risks - In some countries in the structure of cancer, this tumor is out for 2-3 places after lung cancer and stomach, and in the U.S.

Prostate Cancer: Are We Not Overestimating The Role Of Screening And Treatment? - Over the past 10 years, the frequency of prostate cancer has increased significantly. The old standard method of diagnosis - digital rectal examination - was complemented by a widely used now to determine the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in men 50 years and older. Undoubtedly, this method has become a major factor contributing to increased detection of prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer: The Problem Of Diagnosis - The introduction into clinical practice of modern methods of diagnosis of prostate cancer increases the probability of detecting the disease early when it is still possible to use radical methods of treatment.

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