For some men, the prostate will begin to grow (become hypertrophic or undergo hyperplasia), as early as when they are in their thirties. The enlargement of the prostate usually has nothing to do with cancer, but if the prostate becomes large enough to block the flow of urine through the urethra, the condition can suddenly become very serious.
The prostate secretes a milky fluid which is blended with the spermatozoa during ejaculation. sperm is therefore a mixture of 2/3 of spermatozoa and 1/3 of prostate secretion.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy is considered totally normal. 5 - 10% of all men in their thirties have benign enlargement of their prostate, and 95% of all 85-year-old men are affected by the condition. About 10% of everyone who have benign prostatic hypertrophy are treated in hospitals. The symptoms are caused by the mechanical pressure on the urethra. The most common are: a frequent urge to urinate (people who are seriously affected by this condition have to get up several times during the night to urinate), urine retention and dribbling. In some cases where the bladder has been subject to stretching over a long period of time because of insufficient emptying, the condition can lead to leaking; urinary incontinence.
The condition also increases the risk of cystitis which can damage the kidney in severe cases. Some elderly develop dehydration because of the troubled urination causing them to drink less than adequate.
Enlargement of the prostate is caused by hormonal changes causing the chemical composition of the male sex hormone, testosterone, to somewhat change. An increased production of oestrogen in the man will stimulate this growth further.
