What is a prostate?

The prostate is part of a man's reproductive system. It's an organ located in front of the rectum and under the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine flows. A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut.

The prostate is a gland. It makes part of the seminal fluid. During ejaculation, the seminal fluid helps carry sperm out of the man's body as part of semen.

Male hormones (androgens) make the prostate grow. The testicles are the main source of male hormones, including testosterone. The adrenal gland also makes testosterone, but in small amounts

How does the prostate change as you get older?

Because the prostate gland tends to grow larger with age, it may squeeze the urethra and cause problems in passing urine. Sometimes men in their 30s and 40s may begin to have these urinary symptoms and need medical attention. For others, symptoms aren't noticed until much later in life.

An infection or a tumor can also make the prostate larger. Be sure to tell your doctor if you:

• Are passing urine more often during the day
• Have an urgent need to pass urine
• Have less urine flow
• Feel burning when you pass urine
• Have blood in the urine or semen
• Have pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away
• Need to get up many times during the night to pass urine
• Have painful ejaculation



Growing older raises your risk of prostate problems. The three most common prostate problems are:

• Inflammation (Prostatitis)
• Enlarged Prostate or BPH
• Prostate Cancer