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What Is A Prostate Gland?
- Enlarged Prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
- What Is It? & Symptoms
- Diagnosis & Expected Duration
- Prevention & Treatment
- More Info
What Is It?
The prostate is a small gland approximately the size and shape of a walnut. It sits directly below the bladder, in front of the rectum. The prostate is a part of the male reproductive tract. It produces fluid that combines with sperm to make semen.
At birth, the prostate gland is tiny. When testosterone levels rise during puberty, the prostate grows rapidly, doubling in size by age 20. Growth slows down for the next two decades and the prostate usually does not cause problems for...
Read moreMore information on "What Is A Prostate Gland?"
From Our Experts
Fiducial Marker Seeds for Prostate Cancer: What They Do and Why...
Dear Dr. Greenstein, I was diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and I have chosen to have radiation therapy. My radiation oncologist... Read more »
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that refers to the enlargement of the prostate, the walnut-sized gland that is part of... Read more »
What Does Prostate Size Mean?
Patients are often confused about the prostate, the walnut sized gland that surrounds the urethra. Often times patients discuss the size... Read more »
Finasteride, Prostate Growth... and Cancer Risk
A fascinating study out of the National Cancer Institute has significant implications for men at risk for prostate cancer and men with... Read more »
A Close Look at the Medications Used for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia...
Studies of the drug phenoxybenzamine, a non-specific alpha blocker, led to a better understanding of the control of the smooth muscle tone... Read more »
From Our Sources
Acute Prostatitis: An Overview
Acute prostatitis is an infection of the prostate gland in young or middle age men. Just for review, the prostate gland is a chestnut sized... Read more »
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Prostatic acid phosphatase test; Serum acid phosphatase; Male PAP test What the risks are Excessive bleeding Fainting or... Read more »
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
The PAP test is a blood test that measures prostatic acid phosphatase (an enzyme found in men, primarilyin the prostate gland and semen) to determine... Read more »
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Prostatic acid phosphatase test; Serum acid phosphatase; Male PAP test Normal Values Normal values vary from laboratory to... Read more »
Risk Factors for Enlarged Prostate
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
A doctor makes a diagnosis of BPH based on description of symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and various blood and urine tests. The... Read more »
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