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Prostate - An Clinical Analysis

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The prostate is a gland in males in front of the rectum and beneath the bladder. Read further to know more.

Written by

Dr. Aysha Anwar

Medically reviewed by

Dr. C. Elanchezhian

Published At May 15, 2024
Reviewed AtMay 15, 2024

Introduction:

Within the male reproductive system is a tiny gland called the prostate. It is located beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It encircles the urethra, the body's tube, to expel pee. The chestnut-sized prostate's primary job is to emit a portion of the seminal fluid, in which sperm join to form semen. During ejaculation, the prostate gland secretes an alkaline fluid that both energizes and shields the sperm. As people age, their prostate often enlarges and changes. The three most prevalent forms of prostate disease are prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. The most frequent cancer in men is prostate cancer.

What Is the Average Weight of the Prostate?

A healthy adult prostate measures around four centimeter in width, three centimeter in height, and two centimeter in thickness. It weighs between 20 and 25 grams.

  • Penis.

  • Urethra.

  • Anus.

  • Rectum.

  • Testis.

  • Scrotum.

  • Bladder.

  • Seminal vesicle.

  • Prostate gland.

What Size Prostate Is Considered Normal?

A tiny prostate weighs between 20 and 70 grams and has a volume of 30 to 40 milliliters. A medium-sized prostate weighs between 20 and 125 grams and has a volume of 40 to 80 milliliters. A big prostate weighs between 40 and 125 grams and has a volume of 40 to 100 milliliters. The prostate gland starts to enlarge at about age 40. A benign prostatic hyperplasia is a modest illness in which the gland grows four or five times larger than it was originally.

Will the Prostate Be Able to Grow?

The prostate may enlarge with aging. For most men, it is a typical aspect of growing older. The prostate may have shrunk from the size of a walnut to that of an apricot by the time a person turns 40. It may shrink to the size of a lemon by the time the patient gets sixty. The enlarged prostate can compress that tube since it encircles a portion of the urethra. When a patient wants to urinate, this causes trouble. Though they can begin earlier, these issues usually only appear once patients are 50 or older. A physician or nurse may refer to this issue as benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is not malignant.

Who Is at Risk for Prostate Enlargement?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is highly prevalent and cannot be avoided. The two factors that raise the risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia are age and a family history of the condition. Here are some statistics on that:

  • Eight out of ten men will eventually have an enlargement of the prostate.

  • Approximately 90 percent of males who are over 85 will have benign prostatic hyperplasia.

  • Thirty percent of males will find their symptoms uncomfortable.

What Are the Symptoms of Prostitis?

An enlarged prostate may be indicated if one has difficulty peeing or needs to urinate frequently, especially at night. Additional indications and manifestations include:

  • After urinating, the bladder does not drain entirely.

  • Urge to urinate without any build-up.

  • Patients need to pause and resume multiple times.

  • It takes effort to get any flow.

It is critical to consult a physician if the patient experiences early benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms. Even though it is uncommon, it can cause major issues, including kidney or bladder damage.

What Are the Diseases of the Prostate?

1. Prostatitis: Despite certain symptoms being similar to benign prostatic hyperplasia, Prostatitis is not the same condition—instead, it is an infection or inflammation of the prostate. Males from their late teens well into old life can be affected. Among the symptoms are:

  • Urine passage difficulties.

  • Fever and chills.

  • Sexual issues.

  • Antibiotics are typically used in treatment.

Bacterial prostatitis is more likely if a catheter or other medical device is inserted into the urethra. Certain sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia can also result in persistent inflammation and infection.

2. Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: This is also known as prostate adenoma. It is an abnormal increase in the prostate's volume. It is benign, and symptoms related to the urinary system, such as frequent urination, urine leakage, or sexual dysfunction, are frequently used to diagnose it.

3. Prostate Cancer: The most frequent malignancy in men is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer risk rises with age, starting around age 50 for those without a family history and after age 45 for those with a family history. Approximately 70 years of age is when the biggest number of cases occur. Not all prostate cancers are equal in terms of severity; 80 percent are detected early.

How Can One Feel the Prostate?

  • One cannot touch the prostate, but one can feel it from the outside (externally) or within (via the rectum).

  • The simplest place to feel the prostate is on the back portion of the perineum, near the rectum. The area is primarily composed of nerves and veins rather than tissue. The prostate should feel soft or rubbery.

  • One can also feel the prostate more immediately via the rectum. One prostate is around two inches inside the rectum. It is located between penis and rectum and has a mushy or rubbery consistency.

  • When one touches the prostate, either externally or internally, one may have a sudden urge to pee.

  • Many people find prostate stimulation sexually gratifying. However, a self-examination cannot provide a reliable assessment of your prostate health. If a patient has any worries about prostate health, consult a healthcare practitioner. Healthcare practitioners answer any questions one has and accurately assess prostate health.

What Are the Treatments of Prostate?

A few possible treatments are:

  1. Vigilant Waiting: If symptoms do not concern despite having an enlarged prostate, doctors may recommend getting an annual exam that may involve several tests.

  2. Changes in Lifestyle: This involves reducing the amount of alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages consumed before bed and at night.

  3. Health Care: Alpha-blockers, which reduce BPH symptoms, and 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors, which help in prostate shrinkage, are common treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Many males may take them together.

  4. Surgery: Surgical intervention may be necessary for men whose symptoms are so severe that no other treatment is working. Consult physicians about potential dangers and consequences.

Conclusion:

Prostate cancer begins with cell mutations, just like other types of cancer. Because of these tiny alterations in the DNA, the cells multiply more quickly and survive longer than they would ordinarily. As these aberrant cells proliferate, they take up resources that belong to regular cells, endangering the surrounding tissue.

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Dr. C. Elanchezhian
Dr. C. Elanchezhian

General Medicine

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