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Exactly What Is The Prostate And What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Problems?

By: Donald Saunders

It may appear odd but for years men knew little if anything about their prostate and it is only in the last few years as prostate cancer has become such a prominent issue that men are starting to ask just what the prostate is and what it does.

The prostate is a vital component of a man's reproductive system that produces the clear liquid that makes up a significant portion of a man's seminal fluid. Sperm is transported from the testes up to the prostate where it is mixed with prostatic fluid and proteins to make semen.

A normal prostate is roughly the size of a walnut, weighs about one ounce and lies just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is also regularly described as being shaped like a donut and is partially wrapped around the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the body.

The prostate gland grows throughout a man's life, although from the early twenties until the mid-forties growth is extremely slow and to all intent and purpose undetectable. Once a man gets to about forty-five however it is common for the growth of the prostate to accelerate and the vast majority of men will start to experience the symptoms of an enlarged gland during their forties or fifties.

In many cases an enlarged gland simply leads to some mild discomfort that many men simply learn to live with. In some instances however the gland can become so enlarged that it pinches the urethra enough to produce various symptoms that require treatment or persuade a man to ask for treatment to relieve his discomfort. Simple growth of the prostate at this point in a man's life is a normal part of aging and is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BHP.

In all cases however the biggest danger with an enlarged prostate is that this might be more than a simple case of enlargement and could be effectively masking an underlying cancer.

As the prostate grows it also begins to put pressure on the urethra and to narrow it so that the first signs of a developing problem are frequently seen when it comes to urinating. Specifically you may experience a difficulty in urinating and need to 'strain' to start the process. You might also experience a weak flow of urine and a flow that has a tendency to stop and start. As time goes on you will also find that you have to visit the bathroom more frequently, especially at night, and that you feel as though you have to visit the bathroom even just after you have just done so.

As you can imagine this could become something of a nuisance to say the least but but, in spite of this, many men are happy to simply see it as one of the difficulties of aging and learn to live with it. Now there is nothing wrong with this but the mistake which far too man men make is to choose not to turn to their doctor at this stage to confirm that the problem is just BPH and that it is not likely to lead to other problems in their particular case.

Aside from the risk of their being an underlying cancer, BPH can also lead to other difficulties like bladder infections and kidney disease.

When you start to experience symptoms that are suggestive of a developing prostate problem then talk to your doctor so that the problem can be properly diagnosed.

Article Source: http://www.articleresourceindex.com

ProstateProblemCenter.com provides information on various prostate problems and also provides advice on having a prostate examination

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