What Are Prostate Problems?

For men under 50, the most common prostate problem is prostatitis. For men over 50, the most common prostate problem is prostate enlargement. This condition is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Older men are at risk for prostate cancer as well, but this disease is much less common than BPH. Learn more about common prostate problems below.

What Are Prostate Problems?

Prostatitis

Prostatitis means the prostate might be inflamed or irritated. If you have prostatitis, you may have a burning feeling when you urinate, or you may have to urinate more often. Or you may have a fever or just feel tired.

Inflammation in any part of the body is usually a sign that the body is fighting germs or repairing an injury. Some kinds of prostatitis are caused by bacteria, tiny organisms that can cause infection or disease. If you have bacterial prostatitis, your doctor can look through a microscope and find bacteria in a sample of your urine. Your doctor can then give you an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria.

Most of the time, doctors don’t find any bacteria in men with prostatitis. If you have urinary problems, the doctor will look for other possible causes, such as a kidney stone or cancer.

If no other causes are found, the doctor may decide you have a condition called nonbacterial prostatitis.

You may have to work with your doctor to find a treatment that’s right for you. Changing your diet or taking warm baths may help. Your doctor may give you a medicine called an alpha-blocker to relax the muscle tissue in the prostate. No single solution works for everyone with this condition.

What is prostate enlargement, or BPH?

If you’re a man over 50 and have started having problems urinating, the reason could be an enlarged prostate, or BPH. As men get older, their prostate keeps growing. As it grows, it squeezes the urethra. Since urine travels from the bladder through the urethra, the pressure from the enlarged prostate may affect bladder control.

If you have BPH, you may have one or more of these problems:

  • A frequent and urgent need to urinate. You may get up several times a night to go to the bathroom.
  • Trouble starting a urine stream. Even though you feel you have to rush to get to the bathroom, you find it hard to start urinating.
  • A weak stream of urine
  • Small amount of urine each time you go
  • The feeling that you still have to go, even when you have just finished urinating
  • Leaking or dribbling urine
  • Small amounts of blood in your urine

You may barely notice that you have one or two of these symptoms, or you may feel as though urination problems have taken over your life.

Is BPH a sign of cancer?

No. It’s true that some men with prostate cancer also have BPH, but that doesn’t mean that the two conditions are always linked. Most men with BPH don’t develop prostate cancer. However, because the early symptoms are the same for both conditions, you should see a doctor to evaluate these symptoms.

Is BPH a serious disease?

By itself, BPH is not a serious condition, unless the symptoms are so bothersome that you can’t enjoy life. However, BPH can lead to serious problems. One problem is urinary tract infections.

If you can’t urinate at all, you should get medical help right away. Sometimes this happens suddenly to men after they take an over-the-counter cold or allergy medicine.

In rare cases, BPH and its constant urination problems can lead to kidney damage.

What tests will my doctor order?

Several tests help the doctor identify the problem and decide on the best treatment.

  • Digital rectal exam
  • Blood test
  • Imaging
  • Urine flow study
  • Cystoscopy

Learn more: BPH and Urolift Omaha

Find a Urologist in Omaha, NE - Adult Pediatric Urology

Urological Cancers are one of the most common forms of cancer and also one of the most curable types if detected early. The key to detecting and eradicating these forms of cancer are regular screenings. Learn more about the various types of urological cancer.

For more information click here.

Clinical Trials in Omaha

Our Clinical Research Department was developed to fulfill our mission to provide high-quality patient-centered care. When existing treatments fail or significantly lower your quality of life we seek out new, safe methods that give you more options and make further advancements in the fields of urology and urogynecology.

This overactive bladder clinical research treatment taking place in Omaha is testing new treatment methods. They are being developed by pharmaceutical and bio-technical companies. By volunteering, you may receive new investigational treatments that may help us all understand your condition.

Please click this link and fill out the form and we will contact you back right away.