Your Prostate - The Basics

If you’ve come to this page, you obviously have an interest in your prostate. You may just be curious, you might want to know where exactly your prostate is, you may know of someone with prostate problems, or indeed have them yourself. Over the next few pages, we aim to give you as much information as we can on the prostate, to enable you to make any decisions you might need to on what to do next. This information is not exhaustive, but what we aim to do is empower you to ask more questions if you need to.

What is the prostate? And where is it?

Roughly the size of a walnut and situated around the neck of the bladder, the prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and is vital in the production of semen.

The tube through which the urine passes is called the urethra, which goes through the prostate gland.

If the prostate enlarges, then the urethra narrows and urination problems occur.

The prostate is also the centre for a bundle of sexual nerves, which is why prostate problems can cause impotence.

What can go wrong?

Although we are going to concentrate on prostate cancer, there are also a number of other problems that can occur with the prostate.

BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

BPH is relatively common in men over 65, and is characterised by reduced urinary flow, and a weaker urine stream. Click here for detailed information.

Prostatitis

There are two types of bacterial Prostatitis, acute (sudden onset) and chronic (persistent). Click here for detailed information. Please note we cannot accept responsibility for the content of other websites.

If you think you may be suffering from BPH or any other prostate problem then please do consult your Doctor as soon as possible, and don't be nervous!

Cancer of the prostate

You have probably already visited a number of other sites with information on prostate cancer, and may well be feeling rather scared and depressed about it. Yes the statistics can be rather scary, and yes it is serious, but there is a lot that you can do to find out what you need to know, and to help you decide whether you want to have a test to see if you are at risk of getting it, or to help you understand it if you have already been diagnosed.

What you need to know

In all honesty there is much that we don't know about prostate cancer, but, with the help and support of people like yourself, and through working with the other charities with an interest in all things prostate, we know more now than we ever have before.

Prostate cancer is rare in men under 45, although we do know that men with a family history of prostate cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. There is also evidence to suggest that Afro-Caribbean men have a higher risk of developing the disease.

Click here for information on the symptoms of prostate cancer.