When the topic of male health arises, few topics cause greater concern than prostate health. This small, walnut-sized organ is located below the bladder, surrounding the urethra. The primary function of the prostate is making a fluid that becomes part of a man’s semen.
The Warning Signs
Male health naturally declines as a man ages, and prostate trouble is fairly common. There are certain warning signs to look out for:
- Frequent pain or achiness in the lower back, hips, or thighs
- Difficulty urinating, or the complete inability to urinate
- Frequent urge to urinate, and occasional dribbling of urine
- Pain or a burning sensation when urinating
- Erectile difficulty
- Painful ejaculation
- Traces of blood in the urine or semen
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your male health care provider. Your doctor can diagnose the problem and provide the appropriate treatment.
The Diagnosis
When male health is impacted by symptoms of prostate trouble, many people automatically fear the worst – cancer. It’s important to know, however, that many prostate problems don’t include cancer. There are other prostate problems that may need simple treatment – or may even clear up on their own.
Acute prostatitis is a bacterial infection in the prostate. It is often caused by the same bacteria that cause bladder or urinary tract infections. E. coli, Klebsiella, and Proteus bacteria are often the culprits, and can be transmitted either sexually or through the blood stream as a result of other health issues.
It comes with some scary symptoms: painful urination, pain in the lower back and legs, fever, and chills; however, this is an infection that can be remedied fairly easily. Your doctor will probably prescribe a treatment of antibiotics and recommend that you drink more fluids to relieve the symptoms.
Chronic prostatitis is a recurring infection that’s harder to kick. Symptoms will typically last far longer than acute prostatitis, though they may not be as intense. This male health problem is harder to treat however, especially if a bacterial infection is not the root cause. Antibiotics won’t be effective if bacteria are not present. The good news is, chronic prostatitis often will clear up on its own over time, and symptoms can be relieved by warm baths and prostate massage.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH is a long name for an enlarged prostate. This male health issue is most common in older men and can be diagnosed by a rectal exam. The swelling of the prostate puts pressure on the urethra, making urination difficult, and may cause dribbling after urination.
BPH is a very common male health concern, with more than half of men over 50 developing the symptoms at some point. Only a very few ever need surgical intervention.
Prostate Cancer is one of the primary male health concerns and is among the most prevalent forms of cancer in men. Prostate cancer is a malignant growth, made up of cells from the prostate gland. A tumor can go undetected for many years and show few outward signs. As the cancer spreads, it can touch surrounding tissues and even spread to other areas of the body.
Because prostate cancer is so prevalent, it’s vital to pay close attention to male health. If you have a concern, don’t ignore it. Talk to your doctor, and keep yourself healthy.
