Prostate disorders are a disease that is quite common in men, especially those aged 50 years and over. Let's get to know more about prostate disorders and their causes so that the right treatment can be done immediately.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that encloses the urinary tract (urethra). The prostate gland functions to secrete a fluid that nourishes and protects sperm.
The prostate is normally the size of a walnut and gets bigger with age. If the prostate is too large or has problems, it can cause health problems.
Various Kinds of Common Prostate Disorders
In general, there are three types of prostate disorders that can affect men, namely:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH, also known as benign prostate enlargement, occurs when the prostate gland enlarges, causing the urinary tract to narrow. This condition can cause the bladder muscle to thicken.
Gradually, the bladder wall will weaken and it will be difficult to pass urine. There are several symptoms that arise due to benign prostate enlargement (BPH), including:
- Difficult to urinate
- Weak and intermittent urine flow
- Feeling incomplete after urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate at night
BPH generally occurs with age. No one knows for sure the cause of benign prostate enlargement. However, this condition is thought to occur due to changes in sexual hormone levels due to the aging process.
Benign prostate enlargement (BPH) is generally treated with medication. The types of drugs that are usually prescribed to treat benign prostate enlargement are alpha and blockers 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Alpha blockers (alpha-blockers) is a type of drug that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate gland, making it easier to urinate. Types of drugs that are classified as alpha blockers are alfuzosin, doxazosin, silodosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin.
Meanwhile, 5-alpha reductase inhibitor is a type of drug that can reduce the size of the prostate by inhibiting hormones that trigger prostate enlargement. Drug finasteride and ambassadoride are two types of drug class 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
In addition, surgical procedures can also be performed to improve BPH symptoms and prevent further complications. Surgery is generally recommended for patients with BPH whose prostate size is very large or has severe complaints.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is inflammation or swelling of the prostate gland. This condition is more common in younger men, between the ages of 30-50 years.
Prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can come from a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease. However, in some cases, the cause of prostatitis cannot be known with certainty.
Causes of prostatitis can be grouped by type, namely:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by a bacterial infection coli or Nisseria gonorrhoeae
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis, which is caused by the spread of bacteria from the urinary tract or a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), the exact cause is not yet known
- Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, which is a condition when the prostate gland becomes inflamed, but does not cause any symptoms
Symptoms of prostatitis can vary greatly from person to person. The following are some of the symptoms that can appear:
- Difficulty and pain or burning sensation appears when urinating
- There is blood when urinating
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Weak urine flow
- Pain when ejaculating
- Bloody semen
- Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Prostatitis can be treated by administering drugs such as antibiotics to eradicate the germs that cause inflammation of the prostate, giving painkillers, or drugs to relax the bladder muscle (alpha-blockers) which is also used to treat BPH.
In addition to using drugs, prostatitis sufferers will also be advised to do things that help relieve prostatitis symptoms, such as hot baths, avoiding alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and limiting caffeine consumption.
Cycling, sitting too long, or any activity that can irritate the prostate, also need to be avoided for a while until the condition is completely healed.
prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland. Until now, the cause of prostate cancer is still unknown. However, there are several factors that are thought to increase a person's risk of prostate cancer, namely age, family history, and obesity.
Prostate cancer usually does not cause any symptoms in its early stages. However, at an advanced stage, symptoms that appear can include:
- Difficult to urinate
- Decreased urine flow
- Bone pain and discomfort in the pelvic area
- Blood in urine and semen
The type of cancer treatment that will be carried out depends on the growth rate of the cancer and the health condition of the sufferer. In general, prostate cancer can be treated with radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery to remove the prostate gland.
If prostate cancer is detected as early as possible at an early stage, the chances of recovering from cancer will be even greater. Therefore, it is important to carry out an examination as recommended by your doctor, especially if you have risk factors or experience symptoms of prostate disorders.
Keep your prostate healthy by eating lots of foods rich in vitamins and minerals, exercising regularly, and maintaining an ideal body weight. If there are complaints related to prostate problems, you need to consult a doctor.