The prostate is one of the most misunderstood organs in the male body. But, with around 55,100 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year, it’s important to be aware of what it is.
Below, we’ll discuss how the prostate can change with age, some of the warning signs and symptoms to look out for, and how to improve prostate health.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland in the male body that sits below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen in men) runs through it.
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and is made up of muscle and glandular tissue. Its main job is to secrete a milky white alkaline fluid which nourishes and protects sperm from acidity in the vagina (which would otherwise destroy it), allowing it to reach and fertilise an egg.
The fluid also contains a protein-specific antigen (PSA) which makes sperm more watery so it can be transported more easily.
Prostate fluid makes up 20-30% of semen’s total volume – and although it’s made in the prostate gland, it’s stored in another small tube-shaped gland, called the seminal vesicle. This sits just above the prostate behind the bladder. During sex, fluid from the seminal vesicle and sperm from the testes are forced into the urethra and carried to the penis.
The function and development of the prostate is determined by testosterone (the male sex hormone). Testosterone plays an important role in a number of different functions in the male body including sperm production, sex drive, and muscle size and strength. You can learn more in our article; 9 ways to boost testosterone levels in men.
How does the prostate change with age?
The prostate has two main growth phases – one during puberty when it doubles in size, and another when a man is around the age of 25. From the age of 25, it will continue to increase in size at a steady rate throughout a man’s life, and can grow up to the size of a lemon.
It’s still not fully understood why the prostate continues to grow as men get older. Though it’s been suggested that it happens as a result of hormonal changes.
Prostate conditions to be aware of
While lots of men won’t experience any issues as their prostate grows with age, there are some fairly common prostate conditions to be aware of. These include…
Benign prostate enlargement (BPE)
The Urology Foundation estimates that up to three million men in the UK experience urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostate enlargement (BPE).
BPE is more common in older men, and it typically describes what happens when the prostate gland puts pressure on the bladder and urethra as it grows – making urination more difficult or frequent. It can also make it difficult to fully empty your bladder.
If BPE is affecting your quality of life, it can be treated in a number of ways. For example, lifestyle changes such as cutting down your alcohol intake, drinking less fluid before bed, and getting regular exercise, can help.
There are also medications available that can reduce prostate size and relax the bladder to make urination easier. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended.
In some cases, BPE can cause complications, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or the inability to pass urine at all (acute urinary retention or AUR). AUR can cause severe pain and swelling in the lower tummy. If this happens, you should go to your nearest A&E department straight away.
BPE isn’t related to cancer and the NHS highlights that the condition doesn’t make you more likely to develop prostate cancer. However, while BPE isn’t usually a threat to health, the discomfort it causes can place a strain on daily life. Many men also find it embarrassing and can experience a loss of self-esteem as a result.
However, some symptoms of BPE can be similar to those associated with prostate cancer (such as an increased need to urinate). Therefore, if you experience any changes at all in your urination habits, it’s important to make an appointment with your GP who can investigate further.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis occurs when the prostate gland becomes inflamed and can cause pain in the surrounding areas. It happens when bacteria from the urinary tract leaks into the prostate gland, and can also be caused by a bladder infection.
Prostatitis can occur at any age, though it’s most common between the ages of 30 and 50 – and it affects 35–50% of men at some point in their life.
Symptoms of prostatitis can include…
- Pain in genitals, lower stomach, or back
- Pain when pooing or urinating
- Needing to urinate more often (particularly at night), problems urinating, or a sudden need to urinate
- Blood in urine
- Pain when ejaculating
- Aching muscles and joints, sometimes coupled with fever and chills and generally feeling unwell
Acute prostatitis comes on suddenly and may last only a few days or weeks, whereas chronic prostatitis might last for three months or more. Men with chronic prostatitis can have symptoms that come and go over months or years.
If you have symptoms of prostatitis (particularly if they’re sudden or severe), it’s best to make an appointment with your GP who’ll ask you some questions and examine your stomach (and possibly your rectum) to feel for anything unusual. They might also ask for a urine sample, as this can show signs of infection.
The bacterial infection that causes prostatitis can often be cleared with antibiotics (usually tablets). Or, if you’re particularly unwell, your doctor might recommend that you receive antibiotics in hospital through an IV drip.
Alpha-blockers are also sometimes given to men with chronic prostatitis to make urinating easier – they can help to relax the muscles around the bladder.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and there are around 55,100 new prostate cancer cases in the UK every year.
While the causes are largely unknown, most cases of prostate cancer are seen in men over the age of 50. The risk can also be impacted by genetics.
Prostate cancer develops slowly over a number of years, and there may be no symptoms at first. Symptoms often won’t appear until the cancer has grown to a size where it’s putting pressure on the urethra and causing issues with urination.
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer include…
- Needing to urinate more often
- Having to rush to the toilet very suddenly
- Waking often to urinate during the night
- Not emptying your bladder fully
- Having a weak flow of urine (even when the urge to use the toilet is strong)
- Straining to urinate, or taking longer than usual
- Finding it hard to start urinating, even when you feel desperate
- Blood in urine or semen
Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer, but it’s crucial to make an appointment with your GP if you’re experiencing any of them.
Your GP will usually conduct a PSA test. This is a blood test which measures the amount of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is made in the prostate and can be used to make certain indications about its health.
Having high levels of PSA can sometimes indicate that there’s a problem (though not necessarily cancer). Your doctor might also ask for a urine sample, suggest you keep a bladder diary, and/or do a physical examination of your stomach, penis, and prostate.
The reason that PSA tests aren’t given routinely to all men is that although they can help to detect cancer in some cases, they can also miss cancer or produce a false-positive result.
PSA tests also can’t distinguish between slow and fast-growing cancers. Some slow-growing cancers can be actively monitored for years and never cause any problems – so not being able to provide more early detailed information for patients about their prognosis can result in unnecessary worry.
However, whether you have symptoms or not, in the UK you’re entitled to a PSA test if you’re over the age of 50. Learn more in our article; 11 important health checks for over 50s.
If you have a PSA test and your levels are raised or your doctor is concerned about the results, they may send you for an MRI scan of your prostate. If the scan shows anything abnormal, a biopsy will be able to determine more about what the problem is, and whether cancerous cells are present.
You can find out more about how prostate cancer is diagnosed and what tests are used in our article; Prostate cancer – who’s at risk and what are the warning signs?
The prognosis for men with prostate cancer tends to be positive if it hasn’t spread beyond the prostate. Treatment will depend on factors such as age and prognosis, but can include options such as active surveillance, prostate removal, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. There’s more information on treating prostate cancer on the NHS website.
How can I improve my prostate health?
At present, there are no proven methods for preventing prostate cancer.
However, there are some things you can do to improve your prostate health and become more aware of your risk.
Maintain a healthy weight
Lifestyle is particularly important, as research shows that the risk of developing prostate cancer is higher in men who are overweight or obese.
So, taking steps to reach a healthy weight by making careful food choices and getting regular exercise can help to lower your risk.
You’ll find plenty of healthy diet tips and ideas for how to become more active in the diet and nutrition and fitness and exercise sections of our website. You may also like to sign up for a virtual workout class on Rest Less Events.
Make a doctor’s appointment if you feel something isn’t right
It can be difficult to approach your GP if you feel something isn’t right with your health. If this sounds familiar, try to keep in mind that although going to the doctor is rarely enjoyable for anyone, it’s one of the most important things we can do for our health.
Prostate cancer is usually treatable if caught early, so it’s always worth speaking to your GP if you have any of the symptoms – or if you don’t have symptoms but are over 50 and would like to have a PSA test.
Remember, symptoms don’t necessarily indicate something serious, but it’s always best to get this confirmed by a doctor.
If you’ve had a negative experience with a particular doctor in the past, you can always request to see someone else. You can also request to see a male doctor if preferred.
Some men might also choose to go private – you can find information about 20,000 different private health professionals in this directory from Private Healthcare UK.
Where can I find more information about prostate health?
- Prostate Matters – information on prostate disease.
- NHS – Prostate problems – reliable information on a wide range of prostate issues.
- Prostate Cancer UK – funds life-changing research and provides information, advice, and stats about prostate cancer.
- Men’s Health Forum – a charity that aims to improve the health of men and boys in England, Scotland, and Wales.
- The Prostate Project – established in 1998 by prostate cancer patient Colin Stokes and his surgeon, it aims to give men the best chance at beating the disease.
- Orchid: Fighting Male Cancer – a charity that exists to save more men’s lives by raising awareness of male cancers, offering support services, and carrying out pioneering research.
For more information, head over to the health section of our website.
Do you (or have you had) any prostate problems? Do you have any tips, advice, or experiences that you’d like to share? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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