Men may struggle to recognize the presence of the prostate during the first half of their life.
The prostate is a walnut-sized sex organ just below the bladder that produces fluid to protect sperm after ejaculation.
A healthy prostate is normally invisible. But things change with age.
Enlarged prostate can cause abnormal urination
Starting around age 25, an adult’s prostate begins to slowly enlarge, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and is not associated with cancer.
The cause of the hyperplasia is unknown, but it is clear that many men begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms around age 50, including urgency, frequent urination, due to an enlarged prostate gland. Especially nocturia is frequent, and the stream of urine becomes thin and difficult to urinate during urination.
These symptoms are caused by the prostate surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and through the penis), and as the prostate enlarges, the urethra is squeezed, making it difficult to urinate.
If symptoms worsen to the point of complete inability to urinate, it is a medical emergency and should go to the emergency room or call immediately.
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The effect of benign prostatic hyperplasia on sexual function
Urinary problems caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia are called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms often have problems with sexual function.
The link between lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function is not well understood, but many of these patients experience low libido, erectile dysfunction, and decreased sexual pleasure.
Depression and frequent nocturia, sleep deprivation, or some other physical cause can cause these problems.
Regardless of the cause, the more severe the lower urinary tract symptoms, the greater the problem with sexual function.
Lower urinary tract symptoms can be treated, so seek medical attention early before they cause bladder problems or begin to interfere with sex.
Get tested for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and early detection can improve survival.
Men over 40 should talk to their doctor about family history and other key factors to help determine prostate cancer risk.
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If you need to get tested, you may have a digital rectal exam and a PSA test (a test for prostate specific antigen, which is a blood draw to check the level of prostate specific antigen).
Elevated PSA levels can be prostate cancer or caused by other conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ask your doctor about the results of the test.
What are the treatments for an enlarged prostate?
Some men don’t have an enlarged prostate that causes abnormalities, and for many men with symptoms, urination problems can be alleviated with treatment.
Lifestyle changes: Reducing or eliminating alcohol and coffee, and drinking less water at night, both of which can reduce nocturia.
Also, ask your doctor about any medications you are currently taking, some of which can make your symptoms worse.
Drugs: Certain drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, which works by slowing the growth of the prostate gland, reducing its size, or Makes urination easier by relaxing the muscles.
Surgery: There are various types of surgery to reduce symptoms in men who have not responded to medical treatment.
The most common procedure is called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which removes the prostate tissue that is pressing on the urethra.
Prostate surgery will not affect the patient’s libido and sexual function, but it will cause retrograde ejaculation and non-ejaculation, which will not return to normal.
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