The prostate gland is an important part of a man's reproductive system. It provides nourishing and protective fluid to support sperm survival and increase the chances of fertilization of the egg in a women's uterus. Several conditions can affect the prostate as a man ages, including cancer and benign .
Function
During ejaculation, the prostate contracts around the upper portion of the urethra, preventing urine from being released into the semen. The prostate produces seminal plasma, which is a component of semen. Seminal plasma contains alkaline compounds like bicarbonate to protect sperm after ejaculation into the vagina, and supplies proteins, enzymes, and minerals such as zinc and calcium to nourish sperm. The prostate gland also secretes prostaglandins, natural compounds that are important to the movement of sperm.
Significance
The secretions of the prostate gland produce nutrients sperm need for survival. In addition, prostate fluids help to neutralize the acidic environment of the vaginal canal, helping sperm to survive and move through the vaginal canal and cervix into the uterus. Prostaglandins stimulate contraction of the uterus, to help sperm move towards the egg and increase the chance of fertilization. Without prostate gland secretions, sperm would not be able to survive in the female reproductive tract.
Considerations
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition of the prostate in which prostate tissue grows. It affects almost half of men over the age of 50 and more than 70 percent of men in their 70's. When the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra, impairing the flow of urine out of the bladder. The eventual result is frequent urination since the bladder cannot fully empty. Other symptoms can include bloody or painful urination and a weak urine flow. If untreated, BPH may in rare cases lead to kidney failure.
Warning
New cases of prostate cancer affect over 750,000 men a year. Symptoms are often unnoticeable in early stages but fortunately, prostate cancer develops slowly and if caught early enough, your chances of effective treatment are high. Once prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body however, survival rates decrease. See your doctor every year for an annual physical and prostate exam if you are over the age of 45, especially if you have a strong family history of prostate cancer.
Prevention/Solution
The Western diet and lifestyle play a significant role in the development of BPH and prostate cancer. Prostate cancer rates are increasing in underdeveloped nations as they take on the characteristics of such a lifestyle. A diet composed mainly of high fat, high calorie, nutrient-poor, processed foods and increased consumption of animal products contribute to the increasing incidence of prostate cancer around the world. Smoking and lack of adequate exercise further increase your risk.
Saw palmetto and pygeum are herbal remedies that can be useful in the treatment of BPH. To reduce symptoms of mild BPH, including nighttime urination, take 320 mg of saw palmetto "standardized to 85 to 95 percent fatty acids" or 100 mg of pygeum daily.
Tags: prostate gland, prostate cancer, prostate cancer, prostatic hyperplasia, vaginal canal