{"id":260,"date":"2018-01-11T12:04:48","date_gmt":"2018-01-11T12:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.profaw.co.uk\/wiki\/?p=260"},"modified":"2019-12-09T15:06:48","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:06:48","slug":"the-prostate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.profaw.co.uk\/wiki\/the-prostate\/","title":{"rendered":"The Prostate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The prostate gland is a muscular gland found only in men. It is normally the size of a walnut and is situated in the lower abdomen<\/a>. Specifically, it is located just underneath the bladder, and the urethra passes from the bladder, through the prostate gland, to the penis. Its main function is to produce prostate fluid, which is one of the major components which make up semen. Prostate fluid nourishes and protects sperm during intercourse and forms the bulk of ejaculate volume. People often forget that it needs to be checked regularly, either due to ignorance or embarrassment.<\/p>\n

Breaking Down the Taboo<\/h3>\n

There are many adverts on TV encouraging men over the age of 50 to be more aware of their prostate health. The adverts are not trying to scare men, they are trying to diffuse the taboo surrounding the prostate gland. The NHS website has some excellent advice on the prostate and the problems that can occur. Another excellent source of advice is Prostate Cancer UK. All men have a prostate and it is important for their sex life, but few men know anything about their prostate or what can go wrong with it. According to a survey of men aged 45 and over by Prostate Cancer UK, 70% of them knew nothing about their prostate or the symptoms of prostate problems.\"\"<\/p>\n

Problems with the Prostate Gland<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

The prostate gland often enlarges as men get older, but for two-thirds of men aged 50 or over this doesn\u2019t cause any problems. In some cases, an enlarged prostate can press on the tube carrying urine from the bladder and cause urinary problems. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Another condition is the inflammation of the gland, called prostatitis. This is sometimes caused by an infection and makes urinating painful.<\/p>\n

Prostate Cancer<\/h3>\n

A big fear among men is prostate cancer. Sometimes a single cell in the prostate starts to multiply out of control and cancer can develop. Many men over 70 have prostate cancer, even though most of them will never have it diagnosed or have any symptoms. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with more than 40,000 men diagnosed annually. Around 11,000 men die from it every year, making it the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer<\/a>. The problem is that we are told that early detection is vital for treatment, but early prostate cancer normally has no symptoms whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer below can also be caused by other prostate problems like:<\/p>\n