Prostate Disorders
Information on the causes of prostate problems and prostate infection symptoms.
Select a Topic
- What is the Prostate?
- Diagnosing Prostate Disorders
- Help for Prostate Disorders
- More Information on the Prostate
What is the Prostate?
Right below the bladder in men is a small walnut-shaped organ called the prostate gland. It is wrapped around the urethra, and other than closing the urethra during an erection, the prostate has nothing to do with a man’s urinary system. The prostate is needed for ejaculation, and its basic job is to add special fluid to the sperm before it exits the penis during ejaculation. This is why prostate problems interfere with a man’s ability to urinate and to have sex.
Diagnosing Prostate Disorders
There are three main disorders that can affect the prostate gland, namely:
Infection - With infection, called prostatitis, there is a great deal of pain, fever, and urinary problems that often mimic a urinary tract infection.
The symptoms also resemble a urinary tract infection such as: trouble urinating, dribbling of urine before and after urinating, frequent urination, straining to start the stream, urgency of urination and getting up several times at night to urinate.
Prostate cancer - The symptoms of prostate cancer are very similar to BPH and many men are quite unaware they have cancer of the prostate, as there are often no symptoms at all. A PSA test done every 6 months is now a necessity for every man over 45 and recommended as a precautionary measure.
Prostate problems can also directly affect the functionality of the penis and contribute to erectile dysfunction and low libido.
Help for Prostate Disorders
Conventional treatment for prostate problems ranges from antibiotics for prostatitis, to various pharmaceutical approaches to treat BPH and relax the bladder to promote easier urination.
More Information on the Prostate
Diet and stress appear to be the main culprits of prostate disorders.
Tips for Promoting Prostate Health
- Try to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils, and fresh fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod. Choose whole grains rather than refined white breads, pasta, crackers, and rice.
- Try not to eat fatty meats, excess salt and hydrogenated oils such as those found in margarine, donuts, cookies, cakes, other desserts, potato chips and other deep-fried foods. Also avoid canned, packaged, or otherwise processed foods, sodas, alcohol, and non-herbal teas, as well as dairy foods especially if they have been pasteurized.
