Is it my prostate?

Like any other gland in the body, the male prostate is susceptible to a variety of changes and conditions. The prostate is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It helps make semen that carries sperm. A normal prostate is about the size of a walnut and grows larger with age.

Common prostate conditions include the following:

Prostatitis

This non-cancerous inflammation of the prostate is the most common urinary condition in men under age 50. It also affects half of all men at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Of the four types of prostatitis, chronic prostatitis (lasting more than three months) is the most common but the least understood. It causes pain in the genitals, lower abdomen, and lower back, as well as other symptoms. Treatments include medications and lifestyle modifications.

Enlarged Prostate

Also known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), this is a non-cancerous overgrowth of prostate tissue.

Unlike a normal prostate, an enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and urethra and blocks urine flow. This can cause frequent urination, especially at night; painful urination; a weak or slow urine stream; or even blood in the urine. An enlarged prostate does not increase a man’s risk for prostate cancer.

Symptoms of BPH are one of the most common reasons older men visit a urologist. Although BPH cannot be cured, medicine or surgery can reduce symptoms.

Prostate Cancer

Men age 50 and older or those who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) with prostate cancer, are at increased risk for prostate cancer. BPH and prostatitis are not risk factors for prostate cancer.

There is no standard or routine screening test for prostate cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test are being used or studied to screen for prostate cancer. Men who are considering screening should talk with their healthcare provider.