The prostate is a gland present in males. It is about the size of the walnut and is located between the bladder and the penis. The prostate secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. During ejaculation, the prostate squeezes this fluid into the urethra and it is expelled with sperm as semen.
With age, many men experience some form of a prostate disease. Because of how common the problem is, men in their 50s or 60s must talk to their doctors about whether and how often they need to have your prostate gland checked. Especially in cases where you may have a family history of prostate disease or are particularly concerned about something specific, discuss your concerns with the best Urologist in Lahore or your city.
Types of Prostate Disease
There are three major types of diseases associated with the prostate gland listed below.
- Prostatitis or Inflammation of the Prostate:
This problem is more common in younger men, between the ages of 30 to 50 years. However, it can occur at any age. The main types of prostatitis are bacterial prostatitis (an acute or chronic bacterial infection) and non-bacterial prostatitis (inflamed prostate, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)).
In general, the cause of prostatitis is unknown. Bacterial prostatitis responds well to antibiotic drugs that can get into the prostate.
In case of non-bacterial prostatitis, or CPPS, symptoms vary for each individual. CPPS is the most common form of prostatitis and is more difficult to manage. Symptoms vary from one man to another. Some possible causes of CPPS include:
- A past bacterial prostatitis infection
- Irritation from some chemicals
- A problem with the nerves connecting the lower urinary tract
- Problems with pelvic floor muscles
- Sexual abuse
- Chronic anxiety problems
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH):
BHP is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that is more common in older men. There are a number of symptoms associated with BPH including difficulties associated with urinating and an urge to urinate even when the bladder is empty. Other symptoms include frequent urination, especially at night and a weak or intermittent stream and dribbling of urine.
- Prostate Cancer
This is a very common type of cancer among men. Symptoms include frequent urge to urinate particularly at night, difficulty in urination, inability to urinate, sporadic urine flow, painful or a burning sensation during urination, painful ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen, and pain in the back and hips.
Although the exact causes of prostate cancer remain unknown, age and family history are believed to be contributing factors. If detected early, prostate cancer has a high chance of recovery.
Diagnosis of Prostate Disease
Prostate disease is diagnosed via various different tests, including:
- Physical examination, including digital rectal examination (DRE). In this case, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to check the size of your prostate
- Blood test for prostate specific antigen
- Mid-stream urine (MSU) tests to look for infection or blood in the urine
- Ultrasound scans and urinary flow studies
- Biopsies of the prostate
Treatment for Prostate Disease
Prostatitis may be treated with antibacterial drugs and supportive treatments.
BPH treatment includes a number of options such as medications to relax the smooth muscle of the gland or to shrink the size of the prostate. Another option is a surgery to produce a permanently widened channel in the part of the urethra that passes through the prostate.
Prostate cancer is treated based on individual cases and depends on many factors such as the nature of the cancer, other health problems of the patient, and preferences of the patient, etc. Treatment options include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, surgery etc.
Prostate diseases are quite common but with early detection, most can be treated easily. It is thus highly recommended to consult a good Urologist in Lahore or your city, who would then suggest screening tests, if needed.
