If you’re a male over the age of 50 and you are experiencing the symptoms of enlarged prostate—restricted urine flow, frequent need to urinate, dribbling or “leaking” after urination, blood in the urine, or other urinary difficulties—chances are good that you have an enlarged prostate gland. hat do you need to know, and what should you do? Fortunately, your problem is one shared by lots of other men your age. In truth, the nation’s Institute of Health estimates that about half the male population of age sixty or more experiences enlarged prostate or its symptoms. You are definitely not alone.

If you’re having the symptoms of enlarged prostate, the first thing to do is consult your physician. One of the first ways that doctors determine the existence of enlarged prostate is by performing a digital-rectal examination (DRE). This easy test, which often takes less than a minute, involves the doctor inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into the patient’s spincter. The doctor probes the prostate gland thru the colonic wall, considering its size and consistency. Healthy prostate tissue feels pliant and springy, like the webbing between the thumb and index finger. Unhealthy prostate tissue feels hard, rough, or uneven. If the doctor establishes that unhealthy prostate tissue is present, he will most likely advocate further testing. In numerous cases the prostate, though enlarged, contains healthy tissue. In such instances, your doctor may recommend medication or mildly invasive treatment to alleviate the discomfort of enlarged prostate symptoms.

If your GP believes that unhealthy tissue is present, she or he may counsel a collection of further tests to help cross out more major conditions. One of the first tests that are often used is a blood test to reveal the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in the body. The PSA test, in fact, is a good idea for all men over age 50, as a part of their annual medical screening. PSAs are produced by the cells of the surface covering the prostate, and are sometimes present in raised quantities in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPHanother term for enlarged prostate ). PSAs may also be a very important alert for prostate cancer. However, just because you have high PSAs doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer; it just means that you need additional testing to determine your actual condition.