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The prostate is part of a man's sex organs. It is the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra. As the prostate grows larger it can press on the urethra. This narrows the urethra and can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have problems urinating. Prostate enlargement is said to be the most common health problem in men older than 60 years of age. The prostate usually starts to enlarge at about the age of 40.
Early in prostate enlargement the bladder muscle become thicker to force the urine through the urethra. It does so by contracting more powerfully. This can make the bladder more sensitive. As the prostate is getting larger and the urethra is squeezed tighter, the bladder may not be able to keep up and cause problems fully emptying the bladder. If too much blockage happens from the prostate enlarging it may cause repeated urinary tract infections which can cause kidney damage.
Sometimes men with enlarged prostate don't get any symptoms at all. But common symptoms of enlarged prostate are a weak urine stream, difficulty starting to urinate, dribbling after urinating, feelings of not fully emptying the bladder, leaking urine, more frequent urination, bloody urine, and loss of sexual desire or functions.
Getting a physical exam every year is recommended to be sure there are no signs of enlarged prostate. If there are signs there will be another physical exam to determine exact causes of symptoms. A digital rectum exam is normally done to examine the prostate gland. The doctor can then determine the size and condition of the prostate or feel for lumps. Urine tests are done too to make sure there are no signs of infection.
There are both medical and surgical treatments for enlarged prostate. A common operation for resection of prostate is TURP. The doctor will scrape away the inner core of the prost ate through a small instrument inserted through the urethra. This is done to give relief from symptoms. TUIP is an operation that instead of removing prostate tissue the doctor makes cuts in the prostate; the cuts reduce pressure on the urethra making it easier to urinate. There are also other surgeries out there to treat enlarged prostate.
Often times after having TURP done men find that they have the side effect of semen not going through the penis during orgasm. Since it is not going through the penis it is going backward into the bladder. It can be treated with a drug to keep the bladder closed. This can cause problems with fertility. Erection problems and loss of bladder control are also common side effects of prostate surgeries.
Saw palmetto has a long history of relieving inflammation of the prostate and reducing the hormones that cause prostate enlargement. Pygeum africanum is another herb that can reduce enlargement of the prostate and inflammation. Zinc is very important in cell growth and differentiation in regulating normal cell death. It is great for building the immune system as well.Zinc is very helpful with enlarged prostates and inflammation of the prostate.
Forever Pro 6 is a blend of 6 vitamins, minerals, and herbs for prostate health. By tapping into the power of these ingredients and putting them into an easy to take tablet, it is one of the strongest nutritional supplements for prostate health. It has saw palmetto, pygeum extract, vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene in it. They are great antioxidants to help maintain proper prostate function by stopping the damaging effects of free radicals.
"If after you think you've emptied your bladder there are still several ounces of urine left behind, you are at risk for acute urinary retention. That means that one day while you are on a train, a plane, climbing a mountain, driving on some remote highway, or scuba diving off a tropical island hours away from medical help, you may suddenly have to 'go' and find that you can't. The signal to void becomes progressively more intense and painful until you have to be rushed to the nearest medical facility where a catheter inserted into the bladder via the penis is the only way to release the retained urine. If help is a long way off, you may be in real trouble," explained Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in "The Best Treatment."
Before that happens, what are your options? How do you deal with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
In the past, the only option for people with BPH or an enlarged prostate was surgery. Called transurethral prostate resection (TURP), this procedure involves "shaving" or removing small pieces of the enlarged prostate that block the flow of urine.
TURP is done with a tiny instrument called a resectoscope or operating cystoscope equipped with a light and electric cutting device at its end. The instrument is inserted into the urethra (the tube where urine flows) and a miniature telescope enables the urologist to see the area and cut portions of the prostate gland.
"After the operation, the resectoscope is removed and a catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, where it remains for a day or two so that that the bladder can void while the enlarged channel heals. The hospital stay generally is about a week," according to Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."
TURP usually relieves the uncomfortable symptoms of BPH but there are a few problems. First, the prostate may enlarge again, requiring another operation. This is true for one in five men who may have to undergo a second TURP procedure in five years. Secondly, surgery does not prolong life. One study suggests that it actually reduces a person's lifespan by a year.
In rare cases, TURP can cause impotence or complete inability to control urination. The most common side effect, however, is retrograde ejaculation, that is, the ejaculated semen enters the bladder instead of shooting out of the penis. This may impair a man's fertility.
"Men who have had a TURP experience no decrease in sexual desire and retain the ability to have erections, engage in sexual intercourse, and ejaculate. Unfortunately, the surgical procedure may cause damage to the internal bladder sphincter, the valve responsible for forward ejaculation of semen. A damaged bladder sphincter cannot close prior to ejaculation, resulting in retrograde ejaculation of semen into the bladder," said Dr. Richard F. Spark, associate clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in "Male Sexual Health: A Couple's Guide." (Next: Laser for prostate enlargement.)
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