Prostate problems

The prostate is part of a males pride and joy, his sexual organ. Most males have a special attachment to their penis and other parts of the sexual experience that makes them fear any kind of condition to this part of the body more than any other.

But what is the prostate?

The prostate is a gland found near the outer wall of the rectum and just below the bladder where the urethra comes out. The job of the prostate is to produce the fluid that sperm travel in during moments of ejaculation; this fluid is quite basic and makes up 30% of the sperm that is ejaculated.

How will I know I have a condition?

There are many symptoms that will show if a person has a condition affecting the prostate, these can be quite uncomfortable and worrying for a male who sees it affect his favorite body part.

The symptoms can vary quite a lot but the most common symptoms are feelings of pain while urinating, difficulty passing urine, passing blood in the urine, the increasing need to go toilet to urinate, passing urine more often during the night, and the most scary symptom of all, having difficulty having an erection or problems keeping an erection.

But what condition will I have?

To find this out you will need to visit a medical professional so tests can be carried out. There are three different tests that can be carried out to see if you have a problem with the prostate.

The first test is the digital rectal examination, known as the DRE; this involves the medical professional using a lubricated glove to insert their finger into your anus and gently rubbing the wall of the rectum to feel the prostate on the other side. If any abnormal bumps and lumps are found then the medical professional may require you to take further tests.

The next test is a simple blood test to check your prostate specific antigen levels; if they are over 4 nanograms per milliliter then the doctor may perceive this as a problem and require even further testing.

The third and final test involves a needle gun being inserted into the anus and a hollow needle inside pricking through the rectum wall and into the prostate lurking behind. This biopsy will tell the medical professionals once and for all what is wrong.

How will they alleviate the condition?

It depends on what the condition is, if you have a simple condition then medication can do the trick, normally in the form of anti biotics. If you are found to have a more serious condition then surgery or even radiation treatment can be needed.

But will I have any bad side affects?

It depends on the condition; in the worst cases some men have become impotent or incontinent by passing small amounts of urine when exerting their body.

If you are concerned about the side affects involved, it is important to speak to your doctor and find out the full facts before going ahead with any treatment.