The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. The gland is made of two lobes, or regions, enclosed by an outer layer of tissue. The prostate is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder, where urine is stored. The prostate also surrounds the urethra, the canal through which urine passes out of the body.
While the prostate is essential to reproduction, it is not necessary for sexual activity. While scientists do not know all the prostate’s functions, the do know that one of its main functions is to squeeze fluid into the urethra as sperm moves through during sexual climax. This fluid, which helps make up semen, energizes the sperm and makes the vaginal canal less acidic.
There are three categories of common ailments associated with the prostate:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate, and;
Prostate cancer, a common cancer that responds best to treatment when detected early, and
Prostatitis
Category I Acute bacterial Prostatitis, an acute infection of the prostate gland,
Category II Chronic bacterial Prostatitis, recurrent infection of the prostate gland,
Category III Chronic nonbacterial Prostatitis, also known as “chronic pelvic pain syndrome” or CPPS,
Category IIIa Inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, white blood cells in prostatic fluids,
Category IIIb Non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, no white blood cells in prostatic fluids, and
Category IV Asymptomatic inflammatory Prostatitis, No symptoms but inflammation seen on biopsy or white blood cells seen in prostate fluids.
The onset of prostate symptoms include:
A frequent and urgent need to urinate, especially during the night,
Trouble starting a urine stream. You may feel the need to rush to the bathroom only to find it difficult to start urinating,
A weak urine stream,
Producing only a small amount of urine each time you urinate,
The feeling or urge to urinate when you have just finished,
Leaking or dribbling of urine after completion,
Small amount of blood in your urine, and
Erectile Dysfunction