The prostate is a small, unpaired organ located in the pelvic cavity, just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra runs through the thickness of the prostate.
The structure and function of the prostate gland.
The prostate is made up of smooth muscle fibers and secretory cells. The main function of the gland is to secrete secretions, which intervene in the liquefaction of the ejaculate, ensuring the movement of the sperm and protecting them from the aggressive environment of the vagina. The prostate gland is also a valve that prevents the flow of urine during ejaculation and seminal fluid during urination.
The prostate weight of a healthy adult man is only about 20 g. Hormones of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands, androgens, estrogens have a great influence on your state. During life, the size of the prostate can change: in boys, it is small, during puberty, the prostate increases dramatically. When the secretion of hormones begins to fade (usually this occurs at the age of 45-50 years), the reverse development of the gland normally begins.
However, the opposite process often occurs: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate adenoma.
What is prostate adenoma?
This disease has many synonyms: prostate adenoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic nodular hypertrophy, and others.
The name reflects the essence of the pathological processes that occur in the gland: the glandular tissue grows and forms dense nodules. The size of the prostate increases, causing compression of the urethra and spasm of smooth muscle cells. This leads to the appearance of symptoms of the disease.
The size of the prostate has no direct effect on urinary failure. Symptoms may be absent with a significant increase or appear in the early stages of the disease.
BPH has a benign growth, that is, it does not metastasize. This fundamentally distinguishes BPH from prostate cancer. The main point of reference for the initiation of malignant transformation of the prostate gland is the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
The causes of BPH
According to statistics, in men under 30 years of age, the signs of BPH are usually absent. With age, the incidence of BPH increases and reaches a peak in the ninth decade of life (90%).
The causes of prostate adenoma are not yet fully understood. Prostate adenoma is believed to be multifactorial in nature. The role of the male sex hormone testosterone has long been known in both the normal growth of the prostate gland and the development of BPH. Men aged 40 to 50 are known to have a period of deeper restructuring of hormonal regulation, while there is a decrease in the level of testosterone circulating in the blood. A decrease in the amount of testosterone and a relative increase in the level of estrogens (female sex hormones) in the male body leads to the growth of the prostate gland.
The change in the hormonal proportions in the man's body was the starting point in the study of the causes and the mechanism of development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In addition to hormonal disorders, the inflammatory process, accompanied by prostate edema, is important in the development of prostate adenoma, since it can play an important role in the increase in the number of prostate cells, and organ edema, as a factor mechanical, contributes to the intensification of the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of prostate adenoma
The enlargement of the prostate gland leads to compression of the urethra and causes a spasm of the smooth muscle. This process is accompanied by impaired urination:
- the need to wake up at night to empty the bladder;
- a decrease in the tension of the urine stream;
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination;
- the appearance of difficulty in restraining the urge to urinate;
- increased urination during the day;
- low volume urination.
Often, the above symptoms are joined by difficulty at the beginning of the act of urination, which is more pronounced in the morning and causes you to strain to start urinating. These symptoms are the reason to seek medical attention.
Treatment of prostate adenoma
The course of the disease significantly worsens the quality of life and the lack of adequate treatment can lead to surgery. Given the progressive nature of this disease, drug therapy for BPH must be carried out for a long time. Depending on the prevalence of symptoms, therapy can vary significantly. Drug therapy eliminates urinary problems, reduces complaints, and restores quality of life. You should also be aware that prostate adenoma can be asymptomatic or cause nonspecific urinary problems that do not resemble the classic picture of the disease. This misleads patients and wastes valuable time. But the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be.
Prevention of BPH
There are currently no specific prevention methods. One of the preventive measures is the annual visit to the urologist after 40 years. At the appointment, the doctor will be able to evaluate the symptoms, perform the necessary examination and prescribe an effective treatment.