Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Prostate ProblemsProstate SurgeryTests and Labs

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Table of Contents

Common Prostate Problems

Prostate Surgery

Tests and Labs

Prostate surgery, also known asprostatectomy, refers to a procedure done to remove part or all of theprostate. It is usually done to correct problems with the prostate, such as anenlarged prostateorprostate cancer. Yet there are several types of prostate surgery.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that lies between the bladder and penis. It wraps around the urethra, a thin tube that urine and semen pass through to leave the body. An enlarged prostate can interfere with urine flow and cause serious health issues, such as kidney damage. Most often, an enlarged prostate is benign, but sometimes prostate cancer is the cause.

This article looks at how the prostate works and why it may become enlarged. It explains when prostate surgery may be needed, and the tests and other factors a healthcare provider uses to make that decision.

The prostate gland is a part of the reproductive system, and it helps to produce semen. The prostate tends to grow larger with increasing age. A small amount of prostate enlargement is present in many men over 40 and more than 90% of men over 80.

That’s because hormonal changes and cell growth in the aging process sometimes cause it to swell. The swelling puts pressure on the urethra, making it harder to empty the bladder during urination.

There are common conditions that an enlarged prostate gland may indicate. They include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

An enlarged prostate is also known asbenign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). This condition isnotcancer and does not raise a person’s risk forprostate cancer. Still, the prostate may swell to the point of causing a problem.

BPH symptomsare common in older men and include:

Some people with BPH may require surgery.Transurethralresection of the prostate(TURP), which uses an electrified wire loop to remove prostate tissue and relieve pressure on the urethra, is a common procedure used to treat people with BPH.

Other surgical options includetransurethral electrovaporization of the prostate(TUVP), which relies on electrical energy to remove tissue with heat, andtransurethral incision of the prostate(TUIP). With the TUIP, tissue is not removed but the opening for the urethra is surgically widened.

Laser techniques, and newer procedures such asprostatic arterial embolization(PAE), may also be options in treating BPH.

BPH is so common that it has been said all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Guide to Treatment

Prostatitis

Prostatitisis an inflammation of the prostate or the areas around it. There are four different types of prostatitis:

CP/CPPS shares some symptoms with other prostate conditions but is often more painful than other types. The pain can spread across the pelvis and abdomen, and flare up for months and years.

Both TURP and TUVP may be used to treat prostatitis. Additionally, treatment that relies on shock waves to treat CP/CPPS is a promising alternative that’s under study in both animals and humans, but more research is needed to confirm its benefits.

What to Know About Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control. Compared to some other cancers, prostate cancer tends to be slower and less invasive as it grows.

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms until it has spread. When symptoms are present, they can include:

“Watchful waiting” may be used in some people who seem to be at lower risk of spread. This means a person with prostate cancer is carefully monitored for signs of spread, or to treat new symptoms as they arise.

People who have prostate cancer will have theirprostate-specific antigen (PSA) levelregularly checked to monitor their progress.Radiationand/or surgery may prove necessary. Open orlaparoscopicradical prostatectomy, which removes the entire gland, may help those with prostate cancer that has not spread to other organs and tissues.

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among men in the United States. One in eight men will be diagnosed with the condition during their lifetime.

Prostate Surgery: What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

In the case of prostate surgery, if the tumor is large, fast-growing, or at risk of spreading, prostatectomy will likely be recommended.

Any growth or inflammation of the prostate gland can cause the urethra to become constricted. When other therapies cannot fix the problem, surgery may be the best option.

There are some other cases where your healthcare provider may view prostate surgery as necessary, including:

The type of surgery will depend on the prostate condition that needs to be treated. In some cases, that may mean a minimally invasive procedure. In others, such as the full removal of your prostate gland, the surgery is more complex and your recovery time is likely to be longer.

Risks of Prostate Surgery

People who plan on getting prostate surgery should consider that:

A healthcare provider may order tests to assess prostate health before surgery, both to see if it is necessary and if the person is a good match for a procedure. Below are some common tests and exams that help a healthcare provider make a decision about prostate surgery:

Summary

Most men are likely to have an enlarged prostate later in life, and it isn’t typically cause for alarm. But the swelling, and symptoms that come with it, also may point to more serious prostate issues, including cancer. Surgery may be the ultimate option, but it is not always the first option. Your healthcare provider will base a decision on tests and exams that help to explain the growth, and then discuss the next steps with you.

A Word From Verywell

The prostate is a rather small gland, but due to its location, any changes in its size or function can cause big problems. If you have trouble with urination or ejaculation, you should ask your healthcare provider about prostate screening. There are risks and potential complications, but surgery is necessary and life-saving in some cases.

14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Yale Medicine.Enlarged prostate.Urology Health Foundation.Benign prostatic hyperplasia.Jung JH, McCutcheon KA, Borofsky M, Young S, Golzarian J, Kim MH, et al.Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 29;3(3):CD012867. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012867.pub3.National Institutes of Health.Prostate diseases.Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Chronic prostatitis.Chen PY, Cheng JH, Wu ZS, Chuang YC.New Frontiers of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Medicine in Urology from Bench to Clinical Studies.Biomedicines. 2022;10(3):675. Published 2022 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10030675American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Prostate CancerNational Institutes of Health: National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for prostate cancer.Johns Hopkins.Radical prostatectomy.American Cancer Society.Surgery for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage prostate cancer.

14 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Yale Medicine.Enlarged prostate.Urology Health Foundation.Benign prostatic hyperplasia.Jung JH, McCutcheon KA, Borofsky M, Young S, Golzarian J, Kim MH, et al.Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 29;3(3):CD012867. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012867.pub3.National Institutes of Health.Prostate diseases.Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Chronic prostatitis.Chen PY, Cheng JH, Wu ZS, Chuang YC.New Frontiers of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Medicine in Urology from Bench to Clinical Studies.Biomedicines. 2022;10(3):675. Published 2022 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10030675American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Prostate CancerNational Institutes of Health: National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for prostate cancer.Johns Hopkins.Radical prostatectomy.American Cancer Society.Surgery for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage prostate cancer.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Yale Medicine.Enlarged prostate.Urology Health Foundation.Benign prostatic hyperplasia.Jung JH, McCutcheon KA, Borofsky M, Young S, Golzarian J, Kim MH, et al.Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 29;3(3):CD012867. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012867.pub3.National Institutes of Health.Prostate diseases.Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Chronic prostatitis.Chen PY, Cheng JH, Wu ZS, Chuang YC.New Frontiers of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Medicine in Urology from Bench to Clinical Studies.Biomedicines. 2022;10(3):675. Published 2022 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10030675American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Prostate CancerNational Institutes of Health: National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for prostate cancer.Johns Hopkins.Radical prostatectomy.American Cancer Society.Surgery for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for prostate cancer.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage prostate cancer.

MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.

Yale Medicine.Enlarged prostate.

Urology Health Foundation.Benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Jung JH, McCutcheon KA, Borofsky M, Young S, Golzarian J, Kim MH, et al.Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 29;3(3):CD012867. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012867.pub3.

National Institutes of Health.Prostate diseases.

Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Chronic prostatitis.

Chen PY, Cheng JH, Wu ZS, Chuang YC.New Frontiers of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Medicine in Urology from Bench to Clinical Studies.Biomedicines. 2022;10(3):675. Published 2022 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10030675

American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

National Institutes of Health: National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer treatment.

American Cancer Society.Key statistics for prostate cancer.

Johns Hopkins.Radical prostatectomy.

American Cancer Society.Surgery for prostate cancer.

American Cancer Society.Screening tests for prostate cancer.

American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage prostate cancer.

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