Prostate Problems, Complications, and Treatments
The prostate is not essential for life, but the gland and the fluid it produces are necessary for the health and function of sperm — and therefore male fertility.
Problems with the prostate gland go 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)
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 is also the most common urinary tract problem for this demographic. (1,2)
One-half of all men will experience prostatitis in their lifetime, and about 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 lower urinary 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 — most commonly E. coli — can cause bacterial prostatitis. And while prostatitis is not contagious or a sexually transmitted disease, infections that spread through sexual contact, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can also cause bacterial prostatitis.
You may also be at an increased risk for acute prostatitis if you have or have recently had:
Common symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis include:
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)
Sometimes chronic prostatitis may develop without a bacterial infection. This type of prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain 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:
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:
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, and sepsis (infection of the bloodstream). (1,2,5)
The most common prostate problem for men over 50 years old is noncancerous prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. (1,7)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) most likely develops due to age-related hormonal changes.
As men age, for example, the amount of active testosterone in their bloodstream drops relative to estrogen, 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, including erectile dysfunction, obesity, heart and circulatory disease, and type 2 diabetes, may also increase your risk of BPH.
Symptoms of BPH include:
Complications of BPH include UTIs, 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. (7,9)
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among American men, save for skin cancer. (10)
The disease usually develops slowly, but aggressive forms of prostate cancer also exist.
Risk factors for developing prostate cancer include: (11)
As prostate cancer develops, the disease may cause symptoms that include problems with urination and blood in the semen.
Men with the most aggressive forms of this cancer may experience complications like incontinence, metastatic cancer (cancer that spreads), and erectile dysfunction.
The good news is that most men who develop prostate cancer do not die from the disease.
Prostate cancer is usually treated with 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)
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