Who doesn’t enjoy a good upper lip decal on a man? I do, and have been a long time fan of this month. It's not necessarily the visual appeal… directly, but there's something about a moustache that's comical …and I just think they're great. So in celebration, I thought a tribute to the curator of it all, prostate health awareness, was in order. So here, a little chat about prostate health, and some things to look out for.
First! What does the prostate even do for us? The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate helps to make up a portion of semen that protects and nourishes sperm, making them more viable, and motile. Smooth muscle in the prostate gland also helps to propel the seminal fluid out of the urethra during ejaculation. So, the prostate gland is pretty important…it has made all of us who we are today ;)
Once we understand the anatomy, we can see how issues with the prostate gland manifest as symptoms. The prostate is located between the bladder and the rectum. The gland is made up of 3 lobes that sit like a hot dog bun, which in this case wraps around the urinary outflow tract, the urethra. In visualizing this, you can see that any issues, or enlargement of the prostate glands/lobes is going to have a direct effect on the urinary system, and cause urinary symptoms.
Some issues that can affect the prostate:
Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate gland. There are four different types of prostatitis, which are categorized based on cause. Some types are caused by the same bacteria that cause UTIs (E. coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, Staph aureus), while others aren't associated with a bacterial cause. Each type warrants a different treatment.
BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia refers to the enlargement of the prostate that is most commonly associated with aging. It affects 50% of men above 50 years old, and 70% of men above 70. Symptoms tend to be mostly urinary, and progress with age.
Prostate cancer: This is typically a cancer that affects men later in life, with the risk going up significantly at age 50. This is when regular screening becomes especially important to do. It is important to know that obvious symptoms sometimes may not show up until the cancer has progressed. Because of this, regardless of whether you have symptoms or not, regular screening exams should be done. Men who have a family history of prostate cancer, should start screening even earlier than age 50 for early detection.
Some symptoms to watch out for:
Increased urinary frequency
Difficulty urinating
Weak urine flow
Sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
Dribbling/leaking
Pain or burning with urination
Pain with ejaculation
Blood in urine or ejaculate
Erectile dysfunction
Low back pain with possible referral down the legs
All of these symptoms deserve a follow up with your doctor, for proper treatment and prevention of any worsening symptoms. Generally prostate issues tend to affect men above the age of 50 years old, therefore regular screening is recommended at that point, but with any of the above symptoms make sure to get checked regardless of your age!
So with all this in mind, here’s to healthy prostates, and Movember Mos!