The prostate gland is situated in front of the
bladder. During each micturition , urine is passed from the bladder via
the prostatic urethra into the urethra. In young men, the prostate weighs
about 15 g.
The prostate’s main functions are producing
ejaculate and regulating the metabolism of the male sexual hormones. With
increasing age the prostate is subject to enlargement, which may cause
problems in urinating so that sometimes the bladder is not voided
completely. Benign hyperplasia of the prostate can be treated with
medication or surgery; the decision about the most appropriate treatment
should be made on an individual basis.
Malignancy of the prostate (prostate cancer) has
become the commonest cause of illness and death in men in industrialised
countries.
Every man older than 45 should consult a
urologist once a year for preventive examinations. The doctors examines
the prostate per rectum and determines concentrations of prostate specific
antigen (PSA) in the blood.
If there is a family tendency to prostate cancer
(grandfather, father, brother, uncle) then the annual examination should
be taken up over age 40. Early detection is the main contributing factor
in the successful treatment of prostate cancer. The earlier the tumour is
detected the greater the chance of cure.
