Why men should mind about state of prostate health

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system responsible for the production of seminal fluids. There are three broad sets of problems that occur in the prostate namely, inflammation, enlargement and cancer. This article will focus on the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.

As men advance beyond the age of 45, the prostate continues to grow, balanced by natural cell death. However, a point comes when an imbalance occurs, resulting in increased cell numbers and size.

The cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. However, it is linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older.

The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older. This may cause your prostate gland to grow.

This manifests as lower urinary tract symptoms, categorised into storage, voiding and post voiding. The symptoms are experienced as urgency to pass urine, inability to hold urine when pressed, a weak stream, passing urine a lot more frequently at night and a sense of incomplete bladder emptying among other symptoms.

The prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder. If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through.

The impact on the quality of life is extensive, resulting in behaviour changes such as limiting fluid intake to naturally control urinary symptoms, poor quality of sleep for patients and their spouses, limitation in social engagement due to fear of embarrassment, sexual dysfunction due to severe symptoms and the fear of cancer of the prostate.

Upon experiencing symptoms, individuals should be evaluated by a qualified clinician to determine the severity and impact of symptoms. At times there can be delays in seeking treatment since some consider these symptoms to be part of ageing or even fear of cancer, rather than treatable illness resulting in disease advancement and the likelihood of complications.

Studies have shown that up to 66 per cent of men aged above 50 presenting for other routine outpatient visits were found to have urinary symptoms described above despite them not reporting the same to clinicians.

Your doctor will do a clinical evaluation, laboratory tests and ultrasound scans to determine the best approach to treatment. Treatment depends on the results and can either be medical or surgical.

Medication options can be symptom relievers or disease-modifying drugs, available as single or combined therapies. Qualified urologists and surgeons can provide surgical procedures.

As we marked Men’s Health Month in November, it was important to focus our attention on prostate health, to ensure that those suffering in silence can get help to regain their freedoms and restoration of quality.

Additionally, annual screening for the prostatic disease after the age of 45 is encouraged so that diagnosis and the right treatment options can be initiated early for best outcomes.

Visit your doctor if you have symptoms for evaluation and guidance.