Men's Health > Benign Prostate Hypertrophy > Prostate

A Prostate Primer

The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system.

The main purpose of the prostate is to produce fluid for semen, which transports sperm during the male orgasm. The normal prostate gland is quite small--it weighs only about an ounce--and is nearly the same size and shape as a walnut. The prostate is somewhat firm; 30% of it is made up of muscular tissue while the rest is glandular.

The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, which is the canal that carries urine from the bladder during urination. The prostate's main purpose is to produce fluid for semen, which transports sperm. Just before the male orgasm, muscular contractions squeeze the prostate's fluid into the urethra. Sperm, which are produced in the testicles, are also propelled into the urethra during orgasm. The sperm-containing semen leaves the penis during ejaculation.

Prostate Age

As men get older, their prostate normally increases in size. Studies have shown that approximately 80% of all men will eventually develop an enlarged prostate. If the prostate grows large enough, it may decrease diameter of the urethra and make the urine flow weaker or slower. This may occur even in moderate size prostates. This condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An increase in the size of the prostate and a change in urine flow do not necessarily mean you have cancer; you may have BPH, an infection, or another urologic condition. It is important to note that BPH is not cancer, nor does it lead to cancer, although a man can have both BPH and prostate cancer.

Prostate Problems

For men under 40 years of age, it is likely that the prostate has not caused any problems. But for men who are 40 and over, the prostate may become a source of problems. For instance, 1 in 10 men will develop prostate cancer. Early stages of prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms; thus, yearly medical checkups are important. Other problems, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) may cause bothersome symptoms, such as difficulty in urinating.

Sam Fields