Diseases of the Prostate

There are three important diseases of the prostate: prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. This site is dedicated to prostate cancer, but a brief description of the other two diseases is provided below.

Prostatitis

One quarter of all men who have urinary problems have prostatitis. Prostatitis is a condition that causes infection or inflammation of the prostate, and may produce the following symptoms:

• malaise
• fever
• chills
• muscular pain
• lower back pain
• pain in pelvic area with urination
• frequent urination (day and night)
• inability to empty the bladder completely
• pain with ejaculation

These symptoms may happen very quickly and be severe, resulting in a quick trip to emergency or your doctor's office.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

As men age, the tissue of the prostate grows and changes, resulting in enlargement (BPH). Men over the age of 40 may begin to experience the symptoms of having an enlarged prostate, and not recognise why these changes are happening, or that they can be treated. The cause of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is not known, although there are possible links to high-fat diets, family history and hormones. BPH is not cancer!

Not all men with BPH experience symptoms, but if the prostate enlargement presses on the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body), it could result in:

• more frequent urination (day and night)
• inability to empty the bladder completely
• weak stream
• inability to delay urination
• difficulty stopping and starting
• incontinence (no control)
• painful or bloody urination