Prostate Diseases

Sections

Causes

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Most men have a prostate gland that gets larger with age. The cause may be changes in sex hormone levels that happen with normal aging.

In some men, an enlarged prostate causes few or no symptoms. In others, the symptoms can cause problems. It's unclear why some men develop symptoms and others do not.

Men with a family history of BPH may be more likely to develop it.

Urinary retention (inability to urinate) is a serious complication of severe BPH that requires immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of BPH can be caused by other conditions (for example, an overactive bladder). So, you need to tell your healthcare provider about all the symptoms you are having.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis causes and treatment vary. Many times the cause of prostatitis isn’t known.

Acute prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. If the infection isn’t successfully treated, prostatitis can happen again and become chronic (long term).

  • Infection can also cause chronic prostatitis. This type of the disease can be more difficult to treat.
  • Prostatitis can also be caused by surgery or trauma that has damaged nerves in that area of the body.
  • Prostatitis does not increase the risk for prostate cancer.

Risk Factors for Prostatitis

  • Having a urinary tract or bladder infection
  • Having an injury to the pelvis
  • Having a urinary catheter (a tube inserted into the urethra to drain urine from the bladder)
  • Having a past episode of prostatitis
  • Having a prostate biopsy
  • Having HIV/AIDS

Symptoms of Prostatitis

  • Pain or burning with urination
  • Difficulty starting urination (hesitancy) or dribbling
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Urgent need to urinate
  • Urine that is cloudy (not clear), or blood in the urine
  • Pain in the abdomen, groin, or lower back
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Flu-like symptoms (more common if the cause is bacterial infection)

Prostate Cancer

The cause of prostate cancer is unknown. Some risks include:

  • Older age.
  • Race. Black men are at higher risk for prostate cancer compared to men of other races. Black men are also more likely to have more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
  • Family history. A strong family history of prostate cancer in men or breast cancer in women can point to a higher risk of prostate cancer.
  • Obesity. Obese men tend to have more advanced disease, which makes it more difficult to treat.
  • Diet. A diet high in animal fats and low in vegetables may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in the early stages. In later stages, symptoms include:

  • Difficulty urinating
  • Weak urine stream
  • Difficulty with erections
  • Blood in the semen
  • Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area
  • Bone pain

 

Last Updated March 2023

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