Prostate problems usually affect men as they get older, but difficulties face younger men as well. An enlarged prostate is common for men as they age. It can be treated with medication--or, if that doesn't work, with surgery. Prostate cancer is the most serious problem facing older men. Being aware of what symptoms to look for can help in the treatment of prostate problems.
BPH
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is the enlargement of the prostate. The gland may grow and press on the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder. This may cause difficulty in urinating and dribbling after urination. BPH is not cancerous and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer. Symptoms may include a hesitation before urinating starts, even though there is an urgency to urinate. There may be straining when urinating and a weak urinary flow. Some men with BPH feel a sense that the bladder has not emptied even after urinating. There are other symptoms: an increased need to urinate, usually at night, and a painful, burning sensation during urination. Some men with BPH have few or no symptoms.
Prostate Infections
Acute prostatitis is a bacterial infection that can cause fever and chills, as well as pain in the lower back and between the legs, according to the National Institute on Aging. There may be pain when urinating. Medicine can treat the condition. Chronic bacterial prostatitis happens when the infection keeps coming back. Antibiotics are used, but it may take a long time to treat. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, also called chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, can occur in young and middle-aged men. Symptoms include pain in the lower back, between the legs or at the tip of the penis. There may be painful ejaculations and the need to urinate frequently. Antibiotics may help treat the problem.
Prostate Cancer
Urinary problems may also indicate prostate cancer as the tumor presses on the bladder or on the urethra. However, most urinary symptoms are a sign of enlarged prostate or prostate infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. Urinary trouble may include increased starting or stopping while urinating and a decreased force in the urine flow. Blood in the urine or semen may indicate cancer in or near the prostate. If the cancer has spread, there may be swelling in the legs and discomfort in the pelvic area. In advanced stages, when the cancer has spread to the bones, there may be bone pain, fractures and pain in the spine.
