Prostate Problems, Complications, and Treatments

Theprostateis not essential for life, but the gland and the fluid it produces are necessary for the health and function of sperm — and thereforemale fertility.

Problems with theprostate glandgo beyond affecting reproduction, though, potentially causing serious health issues and becoming life-threatening.

The most common issues include prostatitis (prostate inflammation, which may be caused by a bacterial infection), prostate enlargement, and prostate cancer. (1)

How To Recognize the Symptoms of Bacterial Prostatitis

The most common type of prostate issue in men under age 50 is prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Prostatitis also the most common urinary tract problem for this demographic. (1,2)

Nearly one-half of all men experience prostatitis in their lifetime and one-quarter of men who see their physician for urologic problems have apparent symptoms of prostate inflammation. (3)

Sometimes prostatitis can develop due to a bacterial infection. This type of prostatitis, called bacterial prostatitis, can be acute (short term) or recurrent (or chronic).

You are more likely to develop bacterial prostatitis if you have a lowerurinary tract infection (UTI). If this infection is recurrent or difficult to treat, you may develop chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Any bacteria that can cause a UTI — in particularE. coli— can cause bacterial prostatitis. And while prostatitis is not contagious or asexually transmitted disease, infections that spread through sexual contact, such aschlamydia and gonorrhea, can cause bacterial prostatitis.

You may also be at an increased risk for acute prostatitis if you have or have recently had:

• An issue that reduces or prevents the flow of urine out of the bladder, such as some kind of blockage
• Phimosis, or penile foreskin that won't retract
• An injury to the perineum (area between the scrotum and anus)
• Medical procedures such as urinary catheter,cystoscopy, orprostate biopsy(4)

Common symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis include:

• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Body aches
• Changes in urinary frequency and urgency
• Problems urinating, including trouble starting a urine stream, a weak or interrupted urine stream, urinary retention (unable to empty the bladder completely), and urinary blockage (inability to urinate)
• Burning feeling or pain during urination
• Pain in the genital area, groin, lower abdomen, or lower back
• Frequently needing to urinate while sleeping

Chronic bacterial prostatitis, which often develops slowly and can last for three months or longer, has similar, though less severe, symptoms. These symptoms, which also include painful ejaculation, may come and go or be ever present (and mild).

Bacterial prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. (2)

What Is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome and How Is It Treated?

Sometimes chronic prostatitis may develop without a bacterial infection. This type of prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic syndrome, affects 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. male population and is the least understood type of prostatitis. (2)

The cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome is often unknown, but you're more likely to get it if you:

• Have nerve damage in the lower urinary tract or abnormal functioning of the nervous system
• Experience frequent psychological stress or have depression
• Had bacterial prostatitis
• Ride bicycles
• Have a health issue that causes urine to flow into the prostate
• Have pelvic floor muscle problems
• Experienced sexual abuse
• Have irritation from chemicals in the urine

Parasites and viruses can also sometimes lead to chronic prostatitis. Some research also suggests that some less common types of bacteria can also cause it. (5,6)

Symptoms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome include:

• Pain in the perineum, penis, scrotum, lower back, or central lower abdomen
• Blood in urineor semen
• Urination problems similar to bacteria prostatitis

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome may be treated with various drugs (including alpha-adrenergic blockers that help relax prostate gland muscles), surgery, and lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes.

Complications of prostatitis include sexual dysfunction, abscesses in the prostate, inflammation of nearby reproductive organs, andsepsis(infection of the bloodstream). (1,2,5)

What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and How Is It Treated?

The most common prostate problem for men over 50 years old is noncancerous prostate enlargement, orbenign prostatic hyperplasia. (1,7)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) most likely develops due to age-related hormonal changes.

随着男性年龄的增长,例如,数量of activetestosteronein their bloodstream drops relative toestrogen, possibly triggering prostate cell growth. Similarly, levels of dihydrotestosterone — another hormone that plays a role in development and growth — remains high as testosterone drops, potentially encouraging prostate cells to grow.

You're more likely to develop BPH if you're older than 40 or have a family history of BPH. Other issues, includingerectile dysfunction, obesity,heart and circulatory disease, andtype 2 diabetes,may also increase your risk of BPH.

Symptoms of BPH include:

• Changes in urinary frequency and urgency
• Urination issues similar to prostatitis
• Painful urinationor ejaculation
• A feeling that the bladder is not empty
• 运球或维ripping after urination

Complications of BPH includeUTIs, damage to the bladder or kidneys, and bladder stones, among other things.

Treatment of BPH includes lifestyle changes (such as drinking less water and exercising pelvic floor muscles), medication, and medical procedures, including surgery. (7,8,9)

Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors, Complications, and Treatment

Prostate cancer is the most commontype of canceramong American men, save forskin cancer. (10)

The disease usually develops slowly, but aggressive forms of prostate cancer also exist.

Risk factors for developing prostate cancer include: (11)

• Being older than 50 (and especially 65)
• Having African-American or Caribbean ancestry
• Being from North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, or the Caribbean islands (The cancer is less commonly seen in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America.)
• Having a family history of prostate cancer
• Inheriting certain gene changes, such as mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, or having Lynch syndrome

As prostate cancer develops, the disease may cause problems with urination, blood in the semen, bone pain (particularly the hips, spine, and ribs), and numbness of the legs and feet.

Complications includeincontinence转移性癌症(癌症扩散),和之前ctile dysfunction. Most men who develop prostate cancer do not die from the disease.

Prostate cancer is usuallytreatedwith surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. Other treatment options include chemotherapy, cryotherapy (freezing prostate tissue), and vaccine treatment (using a vaccine to boost the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells). (12)