Prostate

The prostate is a gland that can be felt by digital examination into the rectum. The prostate gland produces secretions that are components of an ejaculation. Complaints associated with the prostate are usually that of urination, such as:

• Hesitancy
• Dribbling
• Tenesmus
• Hematuria - blood in the urine
• Pyuria
• Nocturia - urination at night
• Dysuria - painful urination

The illnesses that are commonly associated with the prostate gland are:

• Prostatitis - infection of the prostate
• Prostate nodules
• Benign prostate hypertrophy
• Prostate cancer
• Prostatitis

Prostatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute prostatitis is usually associated with infection of the urethra (urethritis) tube from the balls to the outside of the penis where the ejaculate flows. An acute infection normally occurs with the usual sexually transmitted diseases and treated once the organism is eradicated. Chronic prostatitis can be symptomatic or asymptomatic often associated with urinary urgency, nocturia, frequency, dysuria, and dribbling after micturation. There may be pain in the scrotal, testicular, and penile areas as well as low back pains or discomfort. Treatment again is with antibiotics directed against properly identified organisms.

Prostate nodules
This condition is very common in older men usually after the age of. Many are asymptomatic until discovered by accident. If, however, the nodule is associated with symptoms or with an increase in Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a blood test or biopsy may be indicated.

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy
This is an enlargement of the prostate gland itself and is characterized by symptoms associated with the prostate disease defined above. If severe problem symptoms exist with urination, a urology consultation may be warranted to help make the proper diagnosis and institute appropriate therapy.

Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death in men. Risk factors are:

Any suspicion of nodule of the prostate should be biopsied for possible cancer. Increased levels of PSA >8.0 have a very strong correlation to carcinoma of the prostate gland.