The prostate is a small, unpaired organ, located in the pelvic cavity, below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra passes through the thickness of the prostate gland.
Structure and function of the prostate gland
The prostate is made up of smooth muscle fibers and secretory cells. The main function of the gland is to secrete secretions, which are involved in liquefaction of ejaculate, ensuring the movement of sperm and protecting them from the aggressive environment of the vagina. The prostate gland is also a valve that prevents the flow of urine during ejaculation and seminal fluid during urination.
The prostate weight of a healthy adult man is only about 20 g. Pituitary and adrenal gland hormones, androgens, estrogens have a major impact on her condition. During life, the size of the prostate can change: in boys, it is small, during puberty, the prostate grows dramatically. When the secretion of hormones begins to fade (usually this happens at the age of 45-50 years), the reverse development of the gland begins normally.
However, the opposite process often occurs - benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or prostate adenoma.
What is a prostate adenoma?
This disease has many synonyms: prostate adenoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic joint hypertrophy and others.
The name reflects the essence of the pathological processes occurring in the gland: the glandular tissue grows, forming dense nodules. The size of the prostate increases, which causes compression of the urethra and spasm of smooth muscle cells. This leads to the appearance of symptoms of the disease.
Prostate size has no direct effect on urine damage. Symptoms may be absent with a significant increase or appear in the early stages of the disease.
BPH has benign growth, i. e. does not metastasize. This essentially distinguishes BPH from prostate cancer. The main reference point for the onset of malignant transformation of the prostate gland is the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Causes of BPH
According to statistics, in men younger than 30 years, signs of BPH are usually absent. With age, the incidence of BPH increases, peaking in 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 the male hormone testosterone has long been known in both the normal growth of the prostate gland and in the development of BPH. It is known that men aged 40 to 50 have a period of deeper restructuring of hormonal regulation, while 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 an increase in the prostate gland.
The change in hormonal ratios in the male body was the starting point in the study of the causes and mechanism of development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In addition to hormonal disorders, the inflammatory process, accompanied by prostate edema, is important in the development of prostate adenoma, as it can play an important role in increasing the number of prostate cells, and edema of organs, as a factormechanical, contributes to the intensification of the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of prostate adenoma
Enlargement of the prostate gland leads to compression of the urethra and causes smooth muscle spasm. This process is accompanied by impaired urination:
- the need to wake up at night to empty the bladder;
- a decrease in urine flow tension;
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination;
- the appearance of difficulty in curbing the urge to urinate;
- increased urination during the day;
- low volume urination.
Often, the above symptoms are combined with difficulty at the beginning of the act of urination, which is more pronounced in the morning and makes you strain to start urinating. These symptoms are the reason to seek medical attention.
Treatment of prostate adenoma
The course of the disease significantly worsens the quality of life and lack of adequate treatment can trigger surgery. Given the progressive nature of this disease, drug therapy for BPH should be performed for a long time. Depending on the prevalence of symptoms, therapy may vary significantly. Pharmacotherapy eliminates urinary problems, reduces complaints and restores quality of life. You should also be aware that prostate adenoma may be asymptomatic or cause nonspecific urinary problems that do not resemble the classic appearance of the disease. This misleads patients and makes them waste valuable time. But the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is.
Prevention of BPH
There are currently no specific prevention methods. One of the preventive measures is the annual visit to the urologist after 40 years. At the appointment, the doctor will be able to assess the symptoms, perform the necessary examination, and prescribe an effective treatment.