Understanding Prostate Changes: A Health Guide for Men Introduction to the Prostate
You may be reading this article because you are having prostate problems. The article can help answer your questions about prostate changes that happen with age, such as: What are common prostate changes?
How are these changes treated?
What do I need to know about testing for prostate changes, including cancer? This article can give you basic information about common prostate changes. If you are making decisions about prostate cancer treatment, there are other resources available. The prostate is about the size and shape of a walnut. It sits low in the pelvis, below the bladder and just in front of the rectum. The prostate helps make semen, the milky fluid that carries sperm from the testicles through the penis when a man ejaculates. The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, a tube that carries urine out of the bladder and through the penis. How does the prostate change as you get older?  The prostate gland surrounds the tube (urethra) that passes urine. This can be a source of problems as a man ages because: The prostate tends to grow bigger with age and may squeeze the urethra (see drawing). A tumor can make the prostate bigger. These changes, or an infection, can cause problems passing urine. Sometimes men in their 30s and 40s may begin to have these urinary symptoms and need medical attention. For others, symptoms aren't noticed until much later in life. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any urinary symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you:
Are passing urine more during the day
Have an urgent need to pass urine
Have less urine flow
Feel burning when you pass urine
Need to get up many times during the night to pass urine
What Prostate Changes Should You Be Aware Of?
Growing older raises your risk of prostate problems. The three most common prostate problems are: I - nfection (prostatitis)
  - Enlarged prostate (BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia)
  - Prostate cancer

One change does not lead to another. For example, having prostatitis or an enlarged prostate does not raise your chance of prostate cancer. It also is possible for you to have more than one condition at the same time.

What Are Common Tests for Prostate Changes?
Abnormal findings from any of these tests can help diagnose a problem and suggest the next steps to take:  - DRE (digital rectal exam) — a test to feel the prostate
  - PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test — a blood test
  - Biopsy — a test to check for cancer
- Prostate Changes That Are Not Cancer

What Is Prostatitis and How Is It Treated?
Prostatitis is an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland. It affects at least half of all men at some time in their lives. Having this condition does not increase your risk of any other prostate disease. Prostatitis Symptoms

Trouble passing urine or pain when passing urine A burning or stinging feeling when passing urine Strong, frequent urge to pass urine, even when there is only a small amount of urine Chills and high fever Low back pain or body aches Pain low in the belly, groin or behind the scrotum Rectal pressure or pain Urethral discharge with bowel movements Genital and rectal throbbing Sexual problems and loss of sex drive Blocked urine Painful ejaculation (sexual climax )

Prostatitis is not contagious. It is not spread through sexual contact. Your partner cannot catch this infection from you. Several tests, such as DRE and a urine test, can be done to see if you have prostatitis. Getting the right diagnosis of your exact type of prostatitis is the key to getting the best treatment. Even if you have no symptoms, you should follow your doctor's suggestion to complete treatment. There are four types of prostatitis: Acute Bacterial Prostatitis
This infection comes on suddenly (acute) and is caused by bacteria. Symptoms include severe chills and fever. There is often blood in the urine. You must go to the doctor's office or emergency room for treatment. It's the least common of the four types, yet it's the easiest to diagnose and treat.
Treatment : Most cases can be cured with a high dose of antibiotics, taken for seven to 14 days, and then lower doses for several weeks. You also may need drugs to help with pain or discomfort. Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Also caused by bacteria, this condition doesn't come on suddenly, but it can be bothersome. The only symptom you may have is bladder infections that keep coming back. The cause may be a defect in the prostate that lets bacteria collect in the urinary tract.
Treatment: Antibiotic treatment over a longer period of time is best for this type. Treatment lasts from 4 to 12 weeks. This type of treatment clears up about 60 percent of cases. Long-term, low-dose antibiotics may help relieve symptoms in cases that won't clear up.

Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
This disorder is the most common but least understood form of the disease. Found in men of any age from late teens to elderly, its symptoms go away and then return without warning. There can be pain or discomfort in the groin or bladder area.
Treatment: There are several different treatments for this problem, based on your symptoms. These include antibiotics and other medicines, such as alpha-blockers. Alpha-blockers relax muscle tissue in the prostate to make passing urine easier.
Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis
You usually don't have symptoms with this condition. It is often found when your doctor is looking for other conditions like infertility or prostate cancer. If you have this problem, often your PSA test will show a higher number than normal. It does not necessarily mean that you have cancer.
Treatment: Men with this condition are usually given antibiotics for four to six weeks, and then have another PSA test. What Is Enlarged Prostate or BPH?
BPH stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Benign means "not cancer," and hyperplasia means too much growth. The result is that the prostate becomes enlarged. BPH is not linked to cancer and does not raise your chances of getting prostate cancer — yet the symptoms for BPH and prostate cancer can be similar.

BPH Symptoms
BPH symptoms usually start after the age of 50. They can include: