Ironwood Urology’s Blog

As men age, their risk of developing prostate cancer increases. And while prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death for American men.

The prostate gland produces the thick, milky-white fluid that carries the millions of sperm cells during intercourse. The prostate is about the size of a walnut or a golf ball, and it is located between the bladder and the lower intestine. It surrounds part of the urethra, which is the internal tube where urine is directed from the bladder and out of the body.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of [non-skin] cancer for men in the United States. A part of the men’s reproductive system, the prostate is located below a man’s bladder and to the front of the rectum. When healthy, your prostate is about the size of a walnut; when diseased, your prostate will enlarge to the point where it will affect the encased urethra, the tube that empties the bladder of urine. An abnormal prostate can also negatively affect sexual function, as it produces fluid that is integral to semen.

As men get older, BPH, short for benign prostatic hyperplasia, can start to affect your prostate gland and cause uncomfortable symptoms. This condition will often continue to develop, making it difficult for urine to flow from your bladder, causing pain, discomfort, and a host of other issues with your bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys – if not properly treated.