What is the prostate gland?
The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. Another function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar. Semen is the fluid that transports the sperm. A man can manage quite well, however, without his prostate gland. (See the section on surgical treatment for prostate cancer.) In a young man, the normal prostate gland is the size of a walnut. During normal aging, however, the gland usually grows larger. This enlargement with aging is called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), but this condition is not associated with prostate cancer. Both BPH and prostate cancer
The prostate gland is a walnut sized gland that is located between the bladder and urethra. When men urinate they actually urinate through the prostate. As men age the middle of the prostate enlarges under the influence of the male hormone, testosterone. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. As the prostate enlarges, the urinary flow may become restricted leading to a decrease or intermittent force of the urinary stream, a more frequent need to urinate, urgency of urination, or a sense of incomplete voiding. All of these symptoms are caused by BPH, not cancer.
The prostate is a small organ about the size of a walnut. It lies below the bladder (where urine is stored) and surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). The prostate makes a fluid that helps to nourish sperm as part of the semen (ejaculatory fluid). Prostate problems are common in men 50 and older. Most can be treated successfully without harming sexual function. A urologist is a specialist in diseases of the urinary system, including diagnosing and treating problems of the prostate gland. How does the doctor detect prostate enlargement? A doctor usually can detect an enlarged prostate by rectal exam. The doctor also may examine the urethra, prostate, and bladder using a cytoscope, an instrument that is inserted through the penis. What is benign prostatic hyperplasia? Benign prostatic hyperplasia is nonmalignant (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, a common occurrence in older men. It is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia and abbreviate
Only men have a prostate gland. The prostate is usually the shape and size of a walnut. It lies underneath the bladder and surrounds the tube (urethra) that men pass urine and semen through. The prostate glands main job is to make most of the fluid that carries sperm, called semen. The prostate gland can get bigger with age and may press on the urethra, causing problems with passing urine.
