How To Check Your Prostate
This article was co-authored by Robert Dhir, MD. Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhirs expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate , kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and mens health . His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 11 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,038,621 times.
Who Can Use Active Surveillance
ishonest
Active surveillance may be an option if your cancer:
- Is small
- Is only in your prostate
- Has a prostate-specific antigen level less than 10 ng/mL
- Has a Gleason score of 7 or less, which means your cancer is slow- growing. A pathologist will look closely at your tumor biopsy to get your Gleason score.
- Could be treated with surgery or radiation if it starts to grow
You must also:
- Not have any symptoms
- Feel OK about waiting to see if your cancer grows.
- Be able to go about your day-to-day life and not worry that your cancer will spread
- Understand the benefits and risks of your decision to follow active surveillance
Where Do You Feel Prostate Pain When You Get Prostatitis
Prostatitis causes pain in the groin, pelvic area, or genitals. It also causes pain when you pee. Sometimes it can make you feel like you have a cold.
Prostatitis is when a man has an infection in his prostate. The condition can happen to men of any age, but it is more common in men that are 50 or younger. There are many causes for prostatitis, but sometimes the reason isnt known. For example, if bacteria caused someones prostatitis, antibiotics could usually cure the infection.
There are different types of prostatitis. It can come gradually or suddenly. Some classes last for months or keep coming back .
There are many signs and symptoms of prostatitis. They can include:
- When I go to the bathroom, it feels like pain or burning.
- Urinating can be hard. You can dribble or urinate too slowly.
- You might pee a lot at night if you have this condition.
- You need to go pee now!
- Cloudy urine. When the pee looks like milk.
- You might see blood in your pee.
- Some people have pain in their stomachs. The pain might be in the groin or low back.
- It can hurt when you go poop.
- Pain or discomfort in your penis.
- Pain when you ejaculate.
- People with bacterial prostatitis have signs and symptoms that are like the flu.
Also Check: Can Zytiga Cure Prostate Cancer
What Is The Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that rests just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The prostate plays a critical role in the male reproductive system by helping to nourish sperm and direct it from the testicles when a man ejaculates.
Dont Miss: Is Zinc Good For Prostate
What To Expect During The Digital Rectal Exam
This examination can be done while you are either standing or lying down. This may depend on the examination room and any other health conditions that you have.
If standing, you will be asked to stand facing the examination bed, with feet apart, body bent forward, and your arms or elbows on the bed. Feel free to ask your healthcare provider to give you a heads up before each part of your exam.
Your healthcare provider will coat their gloved finger in lubricant. They will insert their finger into your rectum at a downwards angle. You may feel a little pressure or slight discomfort, but it shouldn’t hurt. It is important to relax and take deep breaths and let your healthcare provider know immediately if you feel any pain.
It may take a few seconds for your external sphincter muscle to relax, and your provider may ask you to bear down as if you are having a bowel movement. They will move their finger in a circular motion in order to identify the lobes of your prostate gland.
A normal prostate is usually around 2-4 cm long and has a triangular shape, with a firm and rubbery texture.
During this exam, the healthcare provider checks for:
- Lumps on or around the prostate
- Swelling
Also Check: How Long Can You Stay On Lupron For Prostate Cancer
Medications For Enlarged Prostate
There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors
-
Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.
-
Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostates size, eliminating blockage.
Dont be surprised if your physician prescribes a combination of the two medications, as they have been shown to work more effectively together than alone. The downside is that combination therapy may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from the medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to assess the benefits and costs before starting on combination therapy.
Read Also: What Happens To The Prostate Later In Life
Can Prostate Cancer Be Prevented Or Avoided
Some risk factors, such as family history and hormone levels, cant be prevented. However, your weight, physical activity, and diet may lower your risk for prostate cancer. Work toward a healthy lifestyle by eating the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight .
Read Also: Fiducials Prostate Cancer
What If We Find Something
A rectal exam can give us an indication that cancer may be present but discovering a lump is not a cancer diagnosis. If the examiner finds the surface of your prostate to be hard and lumpy or your PSA levels are higher than expected you may be referred for additional tests. If you haven’t already seen a Consultant Urologist they may conduct another rectal exam to check the GP’s initial assessment.
The next step is usually to have an MRI scan so an image of your prostate can be examined. If necessary, you may then be referred for a biopsy to take a sample from your prostate. Even then, finding cancer cells in your prostate doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need cancer treatment. Find out more on the truth about prostate cancer diagnosis here.
*Reference: NHS England
First published on Monday 23 November 2015
How Do You Find The Prostate
Now for the how-to: You can first access the prostate via the perineum, a spot right in between the testicles and the anus. Communication is important during every step. Even before you begin, consider talking to your partner about what feels right for both of you. You can decide on things like how many fingers might feel best. You can agree on whether a firm touch or a lighter touch is in order. Maybe as you talk things through, youll discover you both feel comfortable enough to explore and see what feels right in the moment. That way, even if prostate massage isnt something you regularly want to incorporate into your sex life, youll have explored it in a way that feels safe and fun for everyone involved.
Also Check: Force Factor Prostate Supplement Side Effects
What Happens Before The Examination
Its normal to feel a bit anxious about this test and it might be uncomfortable. But it usually only takes a few minutes and you shouldnt feel any pain. Tell your doctor if you do.
You can ask for a man or woman doctor if youd prefer. Or you can have someone else in the room, such as a family member.
What Are Common Prostate Problems What Are The Symptoms And Signs
Here are some examples of non-cancer prostate problems:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, means your prostate is enlarged, but is not cancerous. It is very common in older men. An enlarged prostate may make it very difficult to urinate or cause dribbling after you urinate. You may feel the need to urinate a lot, often at night. See your family doctor for an exam. Treatments for BPH include:
- Watchful waiting, also called active surveillance. If your symptoms are not too bad, your doctor may tell you to wait before starting any treatment to see if the problem gets worse. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to return for checkups. You can start treatment later if your symptoms worsen.
- Medications. There are medicines that can help shrink the prostate or help relax muscles near your prostate to ease your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects.
- Surgery. If nothing else has worked, your doctor may suggest surgery to help urine flow. There are many types of BPH surgery. Talk with your doctor about the risks. Regular checkups are important after surgery.
- Other treatments. Sometimes radio waves, microwaves, or lasers are used to treat urinary problems caused by BPH. These methods use different kinds of heat to reduce extra prostate tissue.
Also Check: Prostate Cancer Osteoblastic Or Osteolytic
Using Medication To Reduce Symptoms
Questions To Ask The Doctor
- What treatment do you think is best for me?
- Whats the goal of this treatment? Do you think it could cure the cancer?
- Will treatment include surgery? If so, who will do the surgery?
- What will the surgery be like?
- Will I need other types of treatment, too?
- Whats the goal of these treatments?
- What side effects could I have from these treatments?
- What can I do about side effects that I might have?
- Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?
- What about special vitamins or diets that friends tell me about? How will I know if they are safe?
- How soon do I need to start treatment?
- What should I do to be ready for treatment?
- Is there anything I can do to help the treatment work better?
- Whats the next step?
Also Check: What Color Ribbon Is Testicular Cancer
Can An Enlarged Prostate Cause Testicle Pain
4.1/5causetesticular paincancausedenlarged prostatetesticleread here
Prostatitis is pain and swelling, inflammation, or both of the prostate gland. The cause is sometimes a bacterial infection. Pain can occur in the area between the scrotum and anus or in the lower back, penis, or testes.
Additionally, where do you feel prostate pain? It can cause pain in the lower back, in the groin area, or at the tip of the penis. Men with this problem often have painful ejaculation. They may feel the need to urinate frequently, but pass only a small amount of urine.
Besides, can an enlarged prostate cause pain in the groin?
Prostatitis is swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland situated directly below the bladder in men. Prostatitis often causes painful or difficult urination. Other symptoms include pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals and sometimes flu-like symptoms.
Can enlarged prostate cause burning sensation?
Some symptoms of BPH are not as common, and they could signal that your condition is more complicated or advanced. Those signs include: Burning or pain when you pee. Blood in your urine.
The Most Common Prostate Problem Among Men Over Age 50 This Condition Can Cause Embarrassing Urination Issues
While BPH does not increase your risk of getting prostate cancer or having sexual problems, it can affect quality of life, specifically by causing annoying and embarrassing urination problems.
Since prostate enlargement happens gradually, men often think more frequent trips to the bathroom are a natural part of aging, says Dr. Howard LeWine, chief medical editor at Harvard Health Publishing and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital. But a little medication can help relieve symptoms, meaning less urinary urgency and fewer nighttime awakenings to use the bathroom.
Recommended Reading: How Long Can You Take Lupron For Prostate Cancer
When To Seek Medical Advice
See a GP if you have any of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate .
Even if the symptoms are mild, they could be caused by a condition that needs to be investigated.
Any blood in your urine must be investigated by a GP to rule out other more serious conditions.
Page last reviewed: 10 February 2020 Next review due: 10 February 2023
Recommended Reading: Can An Enlarged Prostate Cause Constipation
What Are We Looking For
Many men experience issues with their prostate gland as they age. The symptoms for benign prostate enlargement and prostate cancer are very similar – most men present first with urinary issues. When your prostate has simply enlarged the surface is usually smooth. We begin to suspect prostate cancer when the surface is hard and lumpy. It’s a key difference and the best way to find out is via a rectal exam.
Read Also: Perineural Invasion Prostate Cancer Treatment
When Should I Call A Doctor
Your symptoms may not bother you too much. But itâs important to talk over any urinary problems with your doctor.
Itâs hard to predict how BPH will play out, and you canât assume that the problem will get better on its own. Your doctor also will want to rule out things that cause similar problems.
Some symptoms need quick medical attention. If you have any of these, call your doctor right away or head to an emergency room:
- You canât urinate at all.
- You have to pee frequently, itâs painful, and you have fever and chills.
- You have blood in your urine.
- You feel a great deal of pain in your lower belly and urinary tract.
National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Cleveland Clinic: Diseases and Conditions Benign Prostatic Enlargement .
Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Mayo Clinic: Diseases and Conditions Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia .
How To Take Prostate 911 Pills
PhytAge Labs claims this product is a men-only product because it focuses on reproductive health issues that are specific to men. Prostate 911 pills are only for men over 18 to relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate and improve their urinary tract health.
PhytAge Labs suggests that you take two Prostate 911 tablets daily, at any hour of the day. If you have any questions about the dosage or are taking medication, consult a medical professional. Prostate 911 claims that most people will feel the benefits within one week. For maximum benefits, Prostate 911 users should take it six times a month.
Recommended Reading: Female Prostate Equivalent
What Causes An Enlarged Prostate Gland
The prostate gland continues growing throughout your life, and aging is the main cause of an enlarged prostate. In fact, by the time theyre 60 years old, about 50% of all men will have BHP, and by the time theyre 85, the percentage jumps to 90%.
The direct cause of an enlarged prostate isnt clear, but certain risk factors increase your chances of suffering symptoms:
- Genetics
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
Dr. Lee performs a few tests to diagnose your enlarged prostate, including urine flow, bloodwork, and a rectal exam.
Several variables dictate the best type of treatment. Depending on how large your gland is, your overall health, your age, and your symptoms, Dr. Lee may recommend lifestyle changes, medication, or even minimally invasive surgery.
Without treatment, your enlarged prostate can cause complications, such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or damage to your bladder or kidneys.
To avoid those problems and relieve your symptoms, schedule a consultation today. Either call us or use our online booking tool.
You Might Also Enjoy
Read Also: Phenylephrine Prostate
Diagnosis Of Enlarged Prostate Gland And Urinary Problems
If you are troubled by urination problems, see a doctor no matter what your age. If your doctor agrees that your symptoms need further evaluation and treatment, you may need to undergo a few tests.These may include:
- general examination medical history and review of any health conditions including obesity, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, depression and erectile dysfunction. A rectal examination may be done to check the size and shape of your prostate gland
- a urine check to ensure the prostate is not infected
- a flow-rate check to estimate the speed with which you pass urine
- an ultrasound examination to assess if the bladder is emptying completely and to examine your kidneys
- urodynamics a series of tests on the bladder to see how your urinary system is functioning may be recommended in some circumstances.
You May Like: Urinozinc Prostate Plus