Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
Welcome to Prostate Health
What is prostate
The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland approximately the size of a walnut (in young men), weighing between 15-20gm (approximately the size of a 20c coin).
It is located directly below the bladder and completely wraps around the urethra. The urethra is the tube through which urine and semen exit along the length of the penis. Only males have a prostate as part of their reproductive anatomy. The main function of the prostate is to store and secrete a clear, slightly alkaline (pH 7.29) fluid that constitutes 10-30% of the volume of the seminal fluid that, along with spermatozoa, constitutes semen. The rest of the seminal fluid is produced by the two seminal vesicles. The alkalinity of seminal fluid helps neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm.
The prostate also contains some smooth muscles that help expel semen during ejaculation.
Prostate disorders
In middle age the prostate may undergo either non-cancerous enlargement until the end of life or it may undergo enlargement due to cancerous growth, or both.
Early symptoms of prostate enlargement:
Hesitancy of urination - flow of urine is delayed
Incontinence - inability to control urine discharge
Going to the toilet frequently to urinate
A weaker urine stream
Dribbling of urine
A feeling after urination that you have not emptied your bladder
Disrupted sleep - you wake up with the urge to urinate
Symptoms associated with prostate disease:
Painful or burning sensation when passing urine
Painful ejaculation
Blood in urine or semen
Pain in the lower back, upper thighs, buttocks area
Severe incontinence of urine
|
