Prostate

The prostate is a glade that surrounds the urethra of a ban, below the urinary bladder. It is technically known as a tubuloalveolar exocrine gland, and its primary function is to store and then secrete a fluid, clear in color and alkaline in nature, that makes up between ten and thirty percent of the seminal fluid, which in turn combines with sperm to make semen

The portion of the seminal fluid not originating from the prostate is produced by two vesicles known as the seminal vesicles.

The prostate contains a proportion of smooth muscle fiber that assists in propelling the semen in the event of ejaculation. It is about the size of a walnut and can be felt during the course of a rectal examination by a medical professional.

Although prostate secretions vary somewhat between species, they are usually primarily composed of simple sugars in a basic structure. In the prostate secretions of human males, the protein content of the prostate secretion is less than one percent, and contains a prostate specific antigen, as well as acid phosphatase and proteolytic enzymes, and traces of citric acid and zinc.

The prostate gland requires the presence of male sex hormones, known as androgens, in order to function correctly. Androgens are additionally responsible for the development of secondary male sex characteristics. The primary male sex hormone is of course testosterone, which is mainly produced in the testicles, and it is a kind of testosterone (dihydrotestosterone) which controls and regulates the functions of the prostate. Small amounts of other male sex hormones are also produced by the adrenal glands.

Technically speaking, the prostate is an evolved portion of the proximal male urethra, and has developed as early as the ninth week of embryonic growth. The urethra, Wolffian ducts and mesenchyme come together to form the adult prostate gland, which is really a combination of components contained in a convenient capsule. The prostate gland is similar in type to the Skene’s glands found in a lot of females.

Inside the prostate, the prostatic urethra comes from the bladder and combines with two ejaculatory ducts.

Inflammation of the prostate gland is known as prostatitis, and comes in several different varieties. Chronic nonbacterial prostitis, also known as male chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is by far the most common form of prostatitis, accounting for around 95% of all cases.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis can be treated with a variety of drugs, including alpha blockers, as well as antihistamines and anxiolytics. Physical therapy and psychotherapy may also be effective on their own or in combination with other treatments. Acute prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis are much less common forms of prostate disease and need to be treated using antibiotics.

BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a disease of elderly men. It occurs when the prostate enlarges to the extent that urination can become very difficult. If the prostate is left unchecked, it may grow large enough to block the urethra and completely prevent the flow of urine, which is an excruciating condition requiring immediate surgery to remove a part of the prostate.

This kind of surgery is called a ‘transurethra re-section’ of the prostate, or TURP, and involves an instrument being inserted through the urethra to perform the removal. Some cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia may be caused by a build up of calcified material in the ducts of the prostate. Frequent urination may be a symptom of BPH, but may also simply be a result of bladder spasms, which are common in the elderly.

One of the most publicized and feared afflictions of the prostate is prostate cancer, which is a relatively common cancer amongst elderly men in developed nations, and is a significant cause of death. Elderly men are recommended to have regular prostate checks by their medical practitioner in order to catch prostate cancer early while it can still be treated.

Preventative methods for prostate cancer include regular sex or, failing that, masturbation, which reduces the risk of carcinogenic compounds building up in sperm supplies. ‘Regular’ in this instance meaning five or more times a week.

Treatment for prostate cancer usually involves surgery and/or radiotherapy, both of which can severely inhibit a man’s ability to have an erection afterwards.
The prostate gland is sometimes called the ‘male G-spot’, as stimulation of the prostate gland is pleasurable, and some men are able to achieve orgasm though this alone. Men’s accounts of this sensation are striking similar to women’s accounts of stimulation of their own ‘G-spot’.

Some studies have indicated a link between having a vasectomy and developing prostate cancer, but the evidence is shaky at best. It is currently thought that even if having a vasectomy does increase a man’s risk of developing the disease, the increased likelihood os very small indeed.