Male Prostate Examinations Will Quickly And Easily Uncover Prostate Problems

By Author: Donald Saunders
Total Articles: 84
Comment this article

Nearly all men will suffer one form of prostate problem with nearly half of all men experiencing benign prostatic hyperplasia (a swollen prostate) by the time they reach the age of 60 and almost ninety percent getting the problem by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a benign or non-cancerous swelling of the prostate and can frequently be treated with medication or with minor surgery. The first step however is to make sure that the problem is benign prostatic hyperplasia rather than something else, such as an infection of the urinary tract or difficulties with the kidneys or bladder.

While carrying out a check for a swollen prostate gland it is essential to also check for prostate cancer as, despite the fact that a swollen prostate gland does not result in prostate cancer, it is possible for a swollen prostate gland and prostate cancer to be found together.

Initial testing will frequently mean having a prostate exam, or digital rectal exam, along with an evaluation of the patient's symptoms and medical history. Because the prostate lies between the rectum and the bladder ...
... it is easy for a doctor or nurse to put a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum while the patient lies on his side to inspect the prostate for signs of swelling or irregularities. A prostate exam is possibly not the most agreeable experience but is more a case of being uncomfortable rather than painful.

It is also possible for you to undertake a prostate exam yourself or for a partner to undertake this for you on a regular basis. Indeed, an increasing number of men find that this relatively simple examination can be done quite easily every now and again whilst taking a shower. This examination provides a great deal of peace of mind and can also allow any enlargement to be picked up at an early stage so that it can be treated.

It is also usual at this stage for the doctor to order a series of laboratory tests. These tests could include a blood test to look at PSA levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine together with a urine test.

Prostate specific antigen is found in the blood and is produced by the prostate with levels rising a little bit in response to benign prostatic hyperplasia and markedly in response to prostate cancer.

The other tests are intended to detect the existence of a urinary tract infection or difficulties with the kidneys, both of which may cause symptoms similar to those experienced in cases of a swollen prostate.

In certain instances the doctor might also order further tests such as an ultrasound examination that can determine the size of the prostate and measure the volume of urine held in the bladder, or a cystoscopy (an exam done using a thin flexible scope) to look at the condition of the bladder and urethra.

When these tests do not produce clear results the doctor might order a prostate biopsy in which a number of tiny tissue samples are removed from the prostate for microscopic inspection.