The first signs and symptoms of prostate disorder usually include problems with urination. These problems can cause you to:
- Have the urge to rush to the washroom to pass urine
- Have urine that dribbles in drops
- Have a weak urine stream
- Have the urge to pass urine more often during the night
- Have difficulty or pain while passing urine
- Feel that the bladder has not been emptied properly even after urinating
- Get frequent pain or discomfort in your lower abdomen
- Have hematuria (blood in the urine)
- Have hematospermia (blood in semen)
- Erectile dysfunction
Depending on the underlying prostate problems, you may have other symptoms.
- If you have prostatitis, your symptoms may cause long-lasting pain or discomfort in your penis or scrotum, your belly, or your lower back.
- If you have bacterial prostatitis, you may not be able to evacuate your bladder completely. Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or body aches, may be present.
- If you have Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), you may feel the urge to urinate often during your night’s sleep. You may have urine with an abnormal color or odor. Urination or ejaculation may be painful.
Please consult your doctor if you experience any of the signs and symptoms to avoid the worsening of the prostate problems.
What are the most common prostate problems?
The three most common prostate problems are:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): BPH is the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. It is the most common problem in men, and it is a part of the normal aging process. Factors like changes in hormone levels and fibrosis may play a role in causing BPH. Fibrosis is the thickening and stiffness of the organ wall.
Prostatitis: Prostatitis is the inflammation (swelling) of the prostate. Though it can affect men of all ages, it is more common in men younger than 50 years. It is of two types:
Bacterial prostatitis: Bacterial prostatitis can be either acute or chronic. Diagnosis usually involves detecting white blood cells and bacteria in the urine with laboratory urine tests.
- Acute bacterial prostatitis: The symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis appear suddenly and usually subside with antibiotic therapy.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis: In chronic bacterial prostatitis, the symptoms build up gradually and stay for a couple of weeks.
Chronic prostatitis (also known as inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome): Doctors do not know the exact cause of chronic prostatitis. The diagnosis of chronic prostatitis is done when there are symptoms of prostatitis but no signs of infection. Bacteria are absent in urine tests.
Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in America. Having your father or brother with prostate cancer makes you more likely to develop it. High-fat diets also put you at risk for prostate cancer.
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowHow are prostate problems diagnosed?
Your doctor diagnoses prostate problems based on the following:
Evaluation of your medical and family history.
A physical exam, including a digital rectal exam of your prostate. The doctor inserts their lubricated finger in the prostate to feel its texture.
Urine tests: The sample of urine is checked under a microscope to check for any signs of infection.
Blood tests: Complete blood count (CBC) is done to find out if there is an infection. Levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is done to check if there is prostate cancer.
Cystoscopy: A tube-like camera is inserted through your urethra to reach into the bladder. This helps the doctors visualize the inside of the bladder with the help of images on the screen.
Urodynamic studies: This test involves visualizing the pressure changes in the lower urinary tract while you urinate.
Ultrasound: This test involves moving a probe (transducer) over your belly or inserting the same into your rectum to check for any abnormalities in the prostate.
Prostate biopsy: Doctors surgically remove a small piece of your prostate by making a few small cuts in your abdomen. The prostate sample is sent into the laboratory to check for the presence of cancer cells.
Magnetic resonance imaging: This may be required if the sonogram shows a heavy prostate and the PSA values are higher than normal.
Latest Men's Health News
Daily Health News
More Health News »Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Harvard Medical School. Chronic Prostatitis. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/chronic-prostatitis-a-to-z
Top What Are the First Signs of Prostate Problems Related Articles
Enlarged Prostate (BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate) is very common in men over 50 years of age. Half of all men over the age of 50 develop symptoms of BPH, but few need medical treatment. This noncancerous enlargement of the prostate can impede urine flow, slow the flow of urine, create the urge to urinate frequently and cause other symptoms like complete blockage of urine and urinary tract infections. More serious symptoms are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and complete blockage of the urethra, which may be a medical emergency. BPH is not cancer. Not all men with the condition need treatment, and usually is closely monitored if no symptoms are present. Treatment measures usually are reserved for men with significant symptoms, and can include medications, surgery, microwave therapy, and laser procedures. Men can prevent prostate problems by having regular medical checkups that include a prostate exam.
BPH Slideshow
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition cause by an enlarged prostate. Get more information on how an enlarged prostate is diagnosed and available treatment for enlarged prostate glands.
BPH Quiz
Take the Enlarge Prostate Quiz and challenge your knowledge of prostate problems. Learn causes, symptoms, treatments, and diagnosis as well as little-known facts about the prostate, and what happens to men when the prostate is enlarged.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Prostate cancer is largely a disease of men over 40, so it’s around this age doctors recommend the first prostate screening. The first exam is a blood test to determine if there are abnormal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in your blood – PSA is produced by the prostate. If the PSA is high, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam, during which the doctor feels your prostate from inside your rectum with a gloved finger. Other diagnostic tests include an endoscopic biopsy of tumor tissue for analysis in a lab.
Is Drinking a Lot of Water Good for Your Prostate?
Doctors recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water (or 1.5 to 2 liters) daily. For prostate problems, limit water intake before going to bed at night. This will keep you from waking up at night to urinate repeatedly.
Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride)
Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. The 2 medications in Jalyn work in different ways to improve symptoms of BPH. Dutasteride shrinks the enlarged prostate and tamsulosin relaxes muscles in the prostate and neck of the bladder. These 2 medications, when used together, can improve symptoms of BPH better than either medication when used alone. Jalyn may cause serious side effects including decreased blood pressure, rare and serious allergic reactions, a higher chance of a more serious form of prostate cancer, eye problems, and a painful erection that will not go away.Orgovyx (relugolix)
Orgovyx (relugolix) is a prescription medicine used in adults for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Orgovyx may cause serious side effects, including changes in the electrical activity of your heart (QT prolongation). The most common side effects of Orgovyx include hot flashes, increased blood sugar levels, increased blood fat (triglyceride) levels, muscle and joint pain, decreased blood hemoglobin levels, increased liver enzymes, tiredness, constipation, and diarrhea.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Risk factors include age, family history, ethnicity, and diet. Prostate cancer is diagnosed by digital rectal exam, prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, and prostate biopsy. Symptoms may include frequent need to urinate, incontinence, pain, blood in the urine, fatigue, and more. Prognosis and treatment depend on cancer staging. Watchful waiting, surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, and other management strategies are available. Research and clinical trials strive to find new and better treatments for prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Quiz
Is prostate cancer the most common cancer in men? Take this quiz to find out and learn the causes, symptoms and treatments of this disease.
Prostate Cancer Slides
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, along with causes and treatments. Know the stages, survival rates and lower your risk of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer (Prostatic Cancer) Symptoms and Causes
Difficulty with urination – frequency, weak stream, trouble getting started, etc. – is usually the first sign of prostate cancer. But these and other early symptoms of prostatic cancer can also come from benign prostate conditions, so diagnostic testing is important, including PSA tests and digital rectal exam.
Prostate Cancer Staging and Prognosis
The prognosis for prostate cancer, as with any cancer, depends on how advanced the cancer has become, according to established stage designations. The patient's PSA score at diagnosis, as well as their Gleason score (the grading system used to determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer) determines the prognosis and final stage designation. Prostate cancer has a high survival rate in general, but your chances depend on the stage of the cancer.
Illustrations of Prostate
Side View of the Prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis. See a picture of the Prostate and learn more about the health topic.
Prostate Problems
The prostate is a gland that is part of the male reproductive system and is located between the bladder and penis. Signs and symptoms of prostate problems include painful ejaculation, burning or pain while urinating, blood in the urine or semen, dribbling urine, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, and pain in the lower back, hips, upper thighs, or the pelvic or rectal area. Common causes of prostate problems in men are prostatitis, enlargement of the prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Causes of prostate problems can assist in diagnosing prostate cancer. Treatments for prostate problems include medications, surgery, and hormone or radiation therapy.
Prostatitis (Inflammation of the Prostate Gland)
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Signs and symptoms of prostatitis include painful or difficulty urinating; fever; chills; body aches; blood in the urine; pain in the rectum, groin, abdomen, or low back; and painful ejaculation or sexual dysfunction. Causes of prostatitis include STDs, bacteria from urinary tract infections, or E. coli. Treatment for prostatitis depends on if it is a bacterial infection or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland.
Prostatitis vs. BPH (Enlarged Prostate): What Is the Difference?
Prostatitis and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, enlarged prostate gland) are both conditions of the prostate gland.
There are four types of prostatitis that can be caused by infections (usually bacterial) or other health conditions or problems, acute bacterial prostatitis (type I), chronic bacterial prostatitis (type II), chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type III), and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis (type IV).
BPH is inflammation of the prostate gland, and most men have the condition by age 50. Doctor's don't know what causes this inflammation, but they theorize that it may be related to hormones. Both of these conditions can cause similar symptoms like low back pain, pain during urination, or difficulty or the inability to urinate. However, prostatitis has many more symptoms and signs than BPH, and they based on the type of prostatitis. Examples include low back pain and/or abdominal pain, painful urination, fever, chills, feeling tired, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), painful urination intermittently, intermittent obstruction urinary tract symptoms (frequent, painful, or incomplete urination), pelvic pain and/or discomfort, pain with ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction (ED).
If you think you have either of these conditions contact your doctor or other health care professional. Bacterial prostatitis can be cured with antibiotics; however, there is no cure for BPH.
Rapaflo (silodosin)
Rapaflo (silodosin) is an alpha-adrenergic blocker used to improve urination in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Side effects of Rapaflo include dizziness, weakness, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), diarrhea, stomach pain, decreased amount of semen released during sex, abnormal ejaculation, runny or stuffy nose, or sore throat.Vantas (histrelin acetate)
Vantas (histrelin acetate) is a medication implant used to deliver the medicine histrelin to your body continuously for 12 months to relieve the symptoms of prostate cancer, but it is not a cure. Serious side effects of Vantas include causing an increase in testosterone during the first week after it is inserted and a loss in bone mineral density.