Prostate Examinations Can Quickly And Easily Discover A Prostate Problem

Prostate Examinations Can Quickly And Easily Discover A Prostate Problem

By:


A lot of men will encounter some form of prostate problem with nearly half of all men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (a swollen or enlarged prostate gland) by the time they reach the age of 60 and approximately ninety percent getting the problem by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-cancerous or benign enlargement of the prostate gland and can often be treated using drugs or with minor surgery. However, the first step is to confirm that the problem is benign prostatic hyperplasia rather than another problem, such as a urinary tract infection or problems with the kidneys or bladder.

Whilst checking for a swollen prostate it is very important to also look for the presence of prostate cancer because, although a swollen prostate does not produce prostate cancer, it is possible for both a swollen prostate and prostate cancer to exist alongside each other.

Initial testing frequently involves a prostate exam, or digital rectal examination, along with an evaluation of the patient's symptoms and medical history. As the prostate gland is situated between the bladder and the rectum it is a simple matter for a doctor to insert a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum while the patient is lying on his side to inspect the prostate gland for signs of enlargement or abnormality. This is possibly not the pleasantest experience but is more a case of being embarrassing rather than painful.

It is also possible for you to undertake a prostate examination yourself or for a partner to carry this out for you on a regular basis. In fact, an increasing number of men find that this relatively simple self examination may be undertaken quite easily every once in a while whilst taking a shower. This examination can provide a great deal of peace of mind and allows any problem to be picked up at a very early stage so that it can be treated.

Your doctor might also order a series of laboratory tests at this stage. These might include a blood test to look at PSA levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and a urine test.

PSA is present in the blood and is produced by the prostate gland with levels increasing slightly in response to a swollen prostate and markedly in the case of prostate cancer.

The other tests are designed to look for the presence of a urinary tract infection or problems with the kidneys, both of which might result in symptoms which are similar to the symptoms found in cases of a swollen prostate.

In certain instances your doctor may also order additional tests like an ultrasound examination to determine the size of the prostate gland and measure the volume of urine held in the bladder, or a cystoscopy (an exam using a thin flexible scope) to evaluate the state of the bladder and urethra.

If none of these tests produce conclusive results your doctor may order a biopsy in which one or more tiny tissue samples are taken from the prostate gland for microscopic evaluation.

About the Author:
ProstateProblemCenter.com looks at the symptoms of enlarged prostate and the digital rectal exam



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Health Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.