Prostate

What is a prostate?

The prostate is a small, firm, partly muscular gland that helps make up the male reproductive system. It surrounds part of your urethra. It creates fluids that help make up semen. Semen is the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It leaves your body through your urethra, usually after an orgasm.

What does the prostate do for a man?

Your prostate gland makes extra fluid in your semen. The fluid contains enzymes, zinc and citric acid. These components help nourish sperm cells and lubricate your urethra. Muscles in your prostate also help push semen into and through your urethra when you orgasm.

Do women have a prostate?

No, females don’t have prostates. But they have Skene’s glands. Experts believe they release fluid that helps with peeing, cleanliness and lubrication during sex. They may also release fluid during orgasm, like males. Some people refer to Skene’s glands as the female prostate.

Where is the prostate located?

Your prostate is below your urinary bladder and in front of your rectum.

What does it look like?

Your prostate is about the size of a walnut. It weighs about 1 ounce (30 grams), which is as heavy as five U.S. quarters. As you age, your prostate usually gets larger. It can grow to the size of a lemon.

Your prostate has five lobes, or sections:

• Anterior (in the front)
• Posterior (in the back)
• Lateral (one on each side)
• Median (in the middle)

Connective tissues and glandular tissues make up its structure. Prostatic fascia covers your prostate. Prostatic fascia is like a hot dog casing. It’s a sheet of thin, stretchy connective tissue that holds your prostate in place.

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect the prostate?

Common conditions that can affect your prostate include:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): BPH causes your prostate to get larger. It can squish your urethra and cause it to narrow. This usually happens after 40. It can cause blockages in your urethra. Think of it like a kink in a garden hose — it can cause problems with peeing and ejaculating. BPH isn’t cancer. Almost all males develop some prostate enlargement as they age.
• Inflammation (prostatitis): This causes the tissues in and around your prostate to become swollen and tender. It’s the most common urinary system issue in males younger than 50. It’s the third most common urinary system issue in males older than 50.
• Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer that affects males. You may not have any symptoms during the early stages. But as it progresses, it may affect how you pee and cause pain in the area.

What are the symptoms of a bad prostate?

It depends on the cause. But in general, prostate conditions usually cause conditions like:

• Blood in your semen (hematospermia) or pee (hematuria)
• Difficulty starting to pee
• Dribbling when you pee
• Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) or bowel control (fecal incontinence)
• Needing to get up a few times to pee while you’re sleeping (nocturia)
• Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Pain in your genitals, perineum or the surrounding areas
• Pain while peeing (dysuria) or after ejaculating (dysorgasmia)
• Sudden urges to pee (urinary urgency)
• Trouble getting and keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction)

How are problems diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider can check the health of your prostate with:

• Prostate exam: A prostate exam includes a digital rectal exam. Your provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel your prostate. A prostate exam also includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. High PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer.
• Pee tests (urinalysis): You’ll provide a pee sample. Providers will check it for signs of a bacterial infection.
• Imaging: An MRI or transrectal ultrasound are imaging tests. They can give providers a detailed look of your prostate. They can also help identify any suspicious areas.
• Cystoscopy: Your healthcare provider uses a pencil-sized lighted tube with a camera at the end to look inside your urethra.
• Biopsy: Your provider uses a needle to get a sample of your prostate tissue. They’ll send it to a lab for examination.

How can prostate health be maintained?

You can help keep your prostate healthy by:

• Getting regular prostate screenings: Most males should start screenings at 50. But you may need them earlier if you have a family history of prostate cancer.
• Regular physical activity: People who are more active are less likely to have BPH.
• Eating healthy foods every day: Eating the daily recommended amount of fruits, veggies and healthy protein may help promote prostate health.
• Quitting tobacco products. Tobacco products increase your risk of developing cancer.

Can supplements improve my prostate health?

Dietary supplements don’t have to go through clinical trials or get approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So, there isn’t a lot of data on them. They may show minor benefits. But most people won’t see their prostate health improve if they take them.

Can you live without a prostate?

Yes. Sometimes, healthcare providers recommend removing your prostate to treat prostate cancer. You can live without a prostate. But it may cause changes in your day-to-day life. Common prostatectomy side effects include erectile dysfunction and uncontrollable peeing. But these side effects don’t occur in everyone who has a prostatectomy.

How can I feel it?

You can’t touch it. But you can feel it from the outside of your body or through your anus.

The easiest way to feel your prostate is from the back half of the area of skin between your anus and genitals, closest to your anus. The area mainly contains nerves and veins, not tissue. Your prostate should feel round and soft or rubbery, like the tip of your nose.

You can also feel your prostate more directly through your anus. It’s about 2 inches inside (about two knuckles in on your finger). Gently curl your finger upward, toward your body. It should feel round and soft or rubbery.

When you touch your prostate, either through your perineum or your anus, you may feel a sudden urge to pee.

Many find that prostate massage feels sexually satisfying. But you can’t accurately check your prostate health through a self-exam. If you have concerns about your prostate, talk to your healthcare provider. They can answer any of your questions and accurately check your prostate health.