The prostate is a small, unpaired organ located in the pelvic cavity just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra passes through the thickness of the prostate.
The structure and function of the prostate
The prostate is made up of smooth muscle fibers and secretory cells. The main function of the gland is to secrete secretions, which participate in the liquefaction of the ejaculate, ensuring the circulation of sperm and protecting them from the aggressive environment of the vagina. The prostate is also a valve that prevents the flow of urine during ejaculation and seminal fluid during urination.
The weight of the prostate of a healthy adult male is only about 20 g. The hormones of the pituitary and adrenal glands, androgens, estrogen have a great influence on its condition. Over the course of life, the size of the prostate can change: in boys it is small, at puberty the prostate increases significantly. When the secretion of hormones begins to wane (usually this happens by the age of 45-50), the reverse development of the gland begins normally.
However, the reverse 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 occurring in the gland: glandular tissue grows, forming dense nodules. The size of the prostate increases, causing the urethra to compress and smooth muscle cells to spasm. This leads to the appearance of symptoms of the disease.
The size of the prostate has no direct effect on urinary insufficiency. 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 onset of malignant transformation of the prostate is the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Causes of BPH
According to statistics, in men under the age of 30, signs of BPH are usually absent. With age, the incidence of BPH increases, peaking around the ninth decade of life (90%).
The causes of prostate adenoma are not yet fully understood. It is believed that prostate adenoma has a multifactorial nature. The role of testosterone, a male sex hormone, has long been recognized in both normal prostate growth and the development of BPH. It is known that men between the ages of 40 and 50 experience a period of the most profound restructuring of hormonal regulation, when 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 estrogen (female sex hormones) in the male body leads to the growth of the prostate.
The change in hormonal ratios in the human body was the starting point for the study of the causes and mechanism of development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In addition to hormonal disorders, the inflammatory process, accompanied by edema of the prostate, is important in the development of prostate adenoma, as it can play an important role in increasing the number of prostate cells, andorgan edema, as a mechanical factor, contributes to the intensification of the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of prostate adenoma
Enlargement of the prostate causes compression of the urethra and causes smooth muscle spasms. This process is accompanied by impaired urination:
- the need to wake up at night to empty the bladder;
- a decrease in the pressure of the urine stream;
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination;
- the appearance of difficulty in holding back the urge to urinate;
- increased urination during the day;
- low volume urination.
Often the above symptoms are accompanied by difficulty at the start of the act of urinating, which is more pronounced in the morning and causes you to start urinating. These symptoms are the reason to see a doctor.
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. Due to the progressive nature of this disease, drug therapy for BPH should be carried out over a long period. Depending on the prevalence of symptoms, treatment can vary widely. Drug therapy eliminates urinary problems, reduces complaints and restores quality of life. You should also be aware that prostate adenoma may be asymptomatic or cause non-specific urinary problems that do not look like the classic picture of the disease. This misleads patients and wastes their precious time. But the earlier the treatment is started, the more effective it is.
Prevention of BPH
There is currently no specific method of prevention. One of the preventive measures is the annual visit to the urologist after 40 years. At the appointment, the doctor can assess the symptoms, carry out the necessary examination and prescribe effective treatment.