Men hear a lot about the prostate gland and possible associated problems with it, but many may not understand exactly what it is and what it does.
What Is the Prostate?
The prostate is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. It matures in size, which is about the size of a walnut, during puberty and begins to enlarge as men move into middle age.
While the prostate is one gland, it is made up of three parts.
- Transition Zone
- Central Zone
- Peripheral Zone
The transition zone is about five percent of the gland but is where enlarged prostates begin. The central zone occupies around 25 percent of the gland and surrounds the transition zone. About 70 percent of the prostate is the peripheral zone that encompasses both the transition and central zones. This is where prostate cancer starts.
What Does the Prostate Gland Do?
The prostate gland does many things but has two primary functions.
- Produces fluid for sperm.
This gland produces prostatic fluid that mixes with the sperm and fluid from the seminal vesicle.
- It keeps fluids where they should be.
Think of men’s lower section as a series of waterways. The prostate opens and closes the urethra where semen can’t get into the bladder and urine can’t get into reproductive organs.
Problems with the Prostate
Statistics show that around 50 percent of men past age 50 have prostate swelling. Prostate enlargement allows the prostate to grow to the size of a lemon. Men can also have an inflamed prostate, called prostatitis. A bacterial infection causes prostatitis and it can be treated with antibiotics.
The third and most serious problem with the prostate is cancer. The risk of developing this type of cancer rises as you age. The prostate can be removed but that leads to impotence.
