What are the warning signs of prostate problem? 13 Signs

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 prostate problems.
What are the most common prostate problems?
The five 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 among 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 into 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.
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Harvard Medical School. Chronic Prostatitis. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/chronic-prostatitis-a-to-z
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Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
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 Transurethral Resection of the Prostate Done?
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure used to treat urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate. Here is what to expect before, during, and after.How Painful Is a Prostate Biopsy?
A prostate biopsy is a simple surgical procedure that takes just 10 minutes. It involves inserting the biopsy needle through the wall of your rectum to reach your prostate to cut and remove around 10-12 small samples of tissue from the prostate. The idea of the procedure makes a prostate biopsy appear as an extremely painful procedure.How Quickly Does Prostate Cancer Spread?
Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate gland in men and it is one of the most common types of cancer. In some cases, it can take up to eight years to spread from the prostate to other parts of the body (metastasis), typically the bones. In other cases, it may be more aggressive.Prostate Cancer Quiz
Is prostate cancer the most common cancer in men? Take this prostate cancer quiz to find out and learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this disease.Signs of Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, PSA Test, Treatments
What is prostate cancer? 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 how to lower your risk of prostate cancer.Prostate Cancer Staging and Survival Rates
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.PSA Test (Prostate Specific Antigen)
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein found in semen. PSA levels are used to detect prostate cancer and monitor the progression of the disease. Learn about test uses, results, and accuracy.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. Check out the center below for more medical references on prostate gland conditions, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Prostate Biopsy?
A patient may take about four to six weeks or even more to recover after a prostate biopsy. The recovery process after biopsy usually depends on the patient's health and age. Doctors may recommend only light activities for 24-48 hours after a prostate biopsy.What Is a Transrectal Ultrasound of the Prostate?
Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate is a procedure done using high-energy sound waves generated by a probe inserted into the rectum.