Don’t delay if you're concerned about your prostate

“THE prostate is a specialised gland normally about the size of a walnut located between the bladder and the penis. A tube called the urethra runs through the centre of the prostate, from the bladder to allow urine flow out of the body. The gland produces a secretion that nourishes and protects sperm,” says Mr Paul Hegarty, a surgeon who specialises in conditions relating to the urinary tract and reproductive system (urology). 

There are several conditions that can affect the prostate including prostatitis, which is an inflammatory condition often due to infection and in many cases treated with antibiotics.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a non-cancerous prostate enlargement affecting most men aged over 50. Symptoms include difficulty passing urine which tends to worsen over time. Special medicines such as alpha-blockers or surgery can treat BPH.