Prostate Disease: The Basics

Prostate disease is probably the most common condition among men. The prostate gland, an organ exclusive to men, tends to give men problems later in life, after the age of 40. While the prostate gland is part of a man’s reproductive system, prostate disease triggers symptoms in the urinary tract. This is due to the location of the prostate gland, which sits below a man’s bladder and encircles the exit tube for a man’s urine.

Prostate disease is, by and large, related to the increasing size of the prostate gland. While the prostate gland is normally about the size of a walnut, prostate disease causes the prostate gland to grow and apply pressure to a man’s urinary tract. There are two main prostate diseases which affect at least half of the adult male population—prostatitis and enlarged prostate (BPH).

Prostatitis is a broad term describing inflammation or bacterial infection of the prostate gland. Prostatitis is a prostate disease which may be acute, chronic, or non-bacterial. This prostate disease can occur in men of all ages and about 50 percent of men will experience prostatitis, but some may never know the cause of their symptoms. There is no evidence that this prostate disease leads to prostate cancer.

Enlarged prostate, or BPH, is a prostate disease that is based in a natural part of the aging process for men. It is normal for men to experience a time of prostate gland growth after the age of 40, but when this prostate growth obstructs the ability for a man to urinate, it is considered a prostate disease needing treatment. Enlarged prostate is not, however, a prostate disease related to prostate cancer.

There are treatments for prostatitis and BPH, but prostate disease can be difficult to diagnose and control. Prostate disease treatments include drugs, antibiotics, lasers, microwaves, and surgery to name a few. Treatment for prostate disease is very important for men as symptoms can be painful and lead to more serious complications.