In order to reproduce, men need to inseminate the ovaries with sperm. During sex, anywhere from 15 million to 200 million sperm per milliliter can be produced when you ejaculate. But, for the sperm to survive the journey to the egg, they need fluid to live long enough to get there. Providing that fluid is the function of your prostate.
This organ is approximately the size of a walnut, weighs about an ounce, and is found in your pelvis between your bladder and penis. During climax, it produces prostatic fluid that nourishes sperm with enzymes, zinc, and citric acid. Conditions that affect the organ don’t generally develop until you get older, and keeping it healthy means knowing when and why you should get a prostate screening.
Men living in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and South Florida areas who need prostate screenings can find help with Drs. Craig Herman and Steven Kester and their dedicated staff at the Urology Center of Florida.
Starting in their 40s, men are at risk for several prostate conditions, including:
Also known as prostate inflammation, this can result from asymptomatic inflammatory, acute, or chronic bacterial prostatitis, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It’s the most common urinary tract problem in men younger than 50 and the third most common in men over 50.
When the prostate grows, it creates blockages in your urinary tract. All men experience some growth in the prostate as they age, but it isn’t always a problem.
After skin cancer, this is the most common form of cancer in men, affecting 1 in 8, with an average diagnosis around 66 years of age.
Signs of prostate conditions include painful testicles, penis, or perineum (the area between the penis and rectum); frequent urges to urinate; painful urination; difficulty urinating; erectile dysfunction; blood in urine or semen (hematuria or hematospermia, respectively); lower back, hip, or chest pain; and dribbling when trying to urinate.
A prostate exam is designed to test for abnormal prostate results. Depending on your risk of these illnesses, screening can start as early as 45. The process consists of a PSA blood test to determine prostate-specific antigen levels and a digital rectal exam during which the doctor checks for abnormalities such as lumps or bumps on the back of the organ. The process can be awkward, but it’s very quick and provides vital information in a short time.
If either of the tests show any abnormal results, further evaluation will be necessary to determine whether you’re dealing with prostate cancer or another illness and to determine the appropriate next steps.
For all men, the risk of prostate cancer and other conditions increases after age 50, but other factors can increase your risk. These include genetics, family history, and being Black.
Getting screened early can help to get ahead of any illness and lower your risk of dying from it. Any information we can get to assess your risk will help us keep you healthy.
Prostate issues, including cancer, can endanger your health, but we can help you deal with them with proper screening and treatment. Make an appointment online or by phone today with Drs. Herman or Kester and the Urology Center of Florida for prostate screening.
