A lot of men will experience some form of prostate problem with about half of all men experiencing benign prostatic hyperplasia (a swollen prostate) by the time they get to the age of 60 and approximately ninety percent getting the problem before they reach 80 years of age.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-cancerous or benign swelling of the prostate and can generally be treated using drugs or with minor minimally invasive surgery. However, the first step is to verify that the problem is indeed benign prostatic hyperplasia rather than something else, such as a urinary tract infection or problems with the bladder or kidneys.
While checking for benign prostatic hyperplasia it is very important to also check for the presence of prostate cancer as, in spite of the fact that benign prostatic hyperplasia does not cause prostate cancer, it is possible for both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer to exist together.
Testing will generally involve having a prostate examination, or digital rectal exam, along with an evaluation of the patient's symptoms and medical history. As the prostate lies between the rectum and the bladder it is a simple matter for a doctor or nurse to put a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to inspect the prostate for signs of swelling or abnormality. A prostate examination is not perhaps the pleasantest of procedures but is more embarrassing than painful.
It is also possible for you to undertake your own prostate exam or for your partner to do this for you. Indeed, many men find that this relatively simple self examination may be undertaken fairly easily every now and again while taking a shower. This provides a great deal of peace of mind and can also allow any problem to be found at a very early stage so that treatment can be carried out.
Your doctor could well also order a number of laboratory tests at this point. These tests could include a blood test to determine PSA levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as a urine test.
Prostate specific antigen is present in the blood and is produced by the prostate with levels being increased a little bit in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia and quite markedly in response to prostate cancer.
The remaining tests are intended to detect the presence of an infection of the urinary tract or problems with the kidneys, both of which may cause symptoms which are similar to the symptoms experienced in cases of a swollen prostate.
In certain cases your doctor may also order additional tests such as an ultrasound examination which can determine the size of the prostate and measure the volume of urine held in the bladder, or a cystoscopy (an examination carried out with a thin flexible scope) to check the condition of the bladder and urethra.
If these tests do not produce conclusive results the doctor may order a biopsy in which several tiny samples of tissue are taken from the prostate for microscopic inspection.
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