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Prostate
Gland
The Prostate Gland
is an essential part of the male reproductive system. The prostate
gland, as it is commonly called, is not really a gland at all, but an
organ that consists of about 70 percent glandular tissue and 30 percent
fibromuscular tissue. In an adult male, it is about the size and shape
of a walnut and weighs about 20 grams. It is located directly beneath
the male bladder and in front of the rectum. A thick fibrous capsule
surrounds the prostate.
In the adult male, the
glandular tissue of the prostate secretes a fluid that contributes 20-30
percent of the total volume of the seminal fluid released when a man
ejaculates. This prostate fluid is continuously generated by the
prostate but increases during sexual excitement. The combination of
spermatozoa, seminal vesicle fluid and prostatic fluid, in addition to a
tiny amount of fluid from some minor glands, constitutes semen. The
prostate gland fluid is a thin, milky substance that gives semen its
characteristic color and odor. Contents of these secretions include
calcium, zinc, citric acid, acid phosphatase, albumin, and prostatic
specific antigen. These substances aid in the lubrication of the
urethra, and protection, nourishment, and mobility of the sperm in the
normally acid environment of the female vagina.
The prostate grows very
little from birth until puberty, but at puberty it undergoes a growth
spurt, increasing in weight and doubling its size. In general, the size
of the prostate remains constant for the next 30 or more years. In some
men, in fact, the prostate never again increases in size. Unfortunately,
however, this is not the case for most men, who will develop some form
of nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, medically known as benign
prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. According to estimates by the American
Foundation for Urologic Disease, more than half of men aged 50 and above
have enlarged prostates. This number steadily increases with age, and by
age 80 it is estimated that 80 percent of men have prostatic
enlargement. If the prostate gland is enlarged it may partially block
the flow of urine through the ureters causing a backpressure in the
kidneys. Untreated, this condition can lead to chronic kidney disease.
Fortunately, there are increasing numbers of medical and nutritional
treatment approaches to this common male disorder.
The major health problems
associated with the male prostate gland may be divided into three main
categories: (1) enlargement of the prostate, called benign prostatic
hyperplasia, or BPH; (2) prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate;
and (3) prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is currently the second leading
cause of death from cancer in men (the first being lung cancer). It is
considered the sixth leading cause of death overall among American men.
For these reasons the American Cancer Society and the American
Urological Association currently recommend that healthy men begin an
annual program of rectal examination after age 40 and a rectal exam and
a simple blood test to monitor prostate-specific antigen levels (called PSA)
after age 50. Men at higher risk for prostate cancer, including
African-Americans and those with a family history of the disease, should
begin both rectal and PSA testing annually at age 40. The American
Urological Association has formulated and validated a brief symptom
index that is becoming the standard test to assess symptoms of BPH. It
is available on-line at: http://pcimed.com/aua.html.
If you are a male, 40 to 50 years old, you should discuss with your
family practitioner or urologist any of your urinary or prostate
concerns and establish an annual testing program.
For more information on
this and related subjects, you might want to visit: Johns Hopkins Brady
Urological Institute Homepage http://prostate.urol.jhu.edu
Scientific American:
Does screening for prostate cancer make sense? (9/96) - provides an
overview of the controversy over treatment-related issues: http://www.sciam.com/0996issue/0996scardino.html
For an opposing
viewpoint: See the Wellness Web Editorial Comment About PSA Screenings: http://www.wellweb.com/prostate/SCREWEB.HTM
USRF - Urological
Sciences Research Foundation - An independent, non-profit organization
based in Los Angeles, dedicated to research and education, focusing on
Prostate Diseases and Impotency: http://www.usrf.org/
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