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prostate gland. 



Prostate gland
Prostate gland

The prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis just in front of the rectum. The urethra passes from the bladder to the penis through the prostate gland;  Therefore, some diseases that affect the prostate gland may obstruct the flow of urine out of the body.


The prostate gland secretes fluid to nourish and protect the sperm, and during the ejaculation of the sperm, the prostate gland compresses this fluid and sends it into the urethra to be ejaculated with the sperm.


Some diseases can affect the prostate gland and affect its function, such as prostatitis, prostate enlargement, and prostate cancer, and this article will discuss different ways to treat an enlarged prostate gland.


Enlarged prostate gland. 


An enlarged prostate gland is a common condition in men over 50. It occurs when cells in the prostate gland begin to multiply and form new cells, causing the prostate gland to enlarge and putting pressure on the urethra that passes through it.


This may result in the emergence of some uncomfortable urinary symptoms such as urethral obstruction and urinary retention, which can lead to problems in the bladder, kidneys, and urethra.


Many factors increase the chances of developing an enlarged prostate gland, including advanced age, obesity, a family history of an enlarged prostate gland, and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.


Causes of an enlarged prostate gland.


BPH is a normal condition of male aging, and the likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate increases with age, as it can be noted that 90% of men over 80 years of age are more likely to develop an enlarged prostate.


Although the causes of an enlarged prostate gland are unknown, changes in male sex hormones associated with aging may be a factor, such as changes in testosterone levels and changes in the cells of the testicles.


addition to those whose testicles are removed at an early age, we can talk about the following facts that increase prostate enlargement:




Diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia.



BPH is diagnosed by health care providers based on personal and family medical history, physical examination, and medical examinations. The diagnosis can be clarified as follows:


Personal and family medical history.


Taking a personal and family medical history is one of the first things to help diagnose BPH. The patient can be asked about the symptoms and their strength.


And make sure of the patient’s history of recurrent urinary tract infections, the medications he takes, whether prescription or non-prescription, whether he drinks water in sufficient quantities, the extent of his consumption of caffeine and alcohol, in addition to his performing any kind of major surgery.


Physical examination. 


A physical exam may help diagnose BPH. Examination of the patient's body and checking for secretions from the urethra, enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, swelling or thinning of the scrotum, and a digital rectal examination, which is a physical examination of the prostate.


In which the man is asked to bend over a table or lie on his side, while holding his knees close to his chest, and the doctor passes his finger through a glove in the rectum, then he will feel the part of the prostate located next to the rectum.


A man may feel slight slight discomfort during a rectal exam. Men do not need anesthesia. The examination helps to see if the prostate is enlarged, tender, or has any abnormalities that require further testing.


medical examinations.


The urologist may order laboratory tests to find out the diagnosis and causes of the enlarged prostate gland and urinary tract diseases. Medical examinations may include the following:


Urinalysis: This is to check for signs of infection in the urine, and this is done by placing chemically treated paper, to find out the color that indicates the severity of the infection.


Blood test: PSA is measured, which is a protein produced by prostate cells, and if its percentage is very high, this may indicate prostate cancer in men, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate infections, aging, and normal fluctuations often cause high levels of protein.


Cystoscopy: An endoscopy of the bladder is performed to look inside the urethra and bladder. 



Treatment of an enlarged prostate gland. 




Treatment of Prostate gland
Treatment of Prostate gland



Many different methods can be used to treat an enlarged prostate gland, including lifestyle changes, certain medications, as well as various minimally invasive and open surgery treatments.



Choosing the best way to treat an enlarged prostate depends on several factors such as the size of the prostate, the patient's age and general health, and how bad the symptoms are.


For example, if the symptoms are mild and tolerable, the doctor may advise postponing treatment and only monitoring the symptoms.


In some cases, symptoms may improve without any treatment. Treatment options for an enlarged prostate gland include:


Lifestyle change. 



In some cases that suffer only from some mild symptoms, the doctor may advise changing the lifestyle and following some instructions that may contribute to improving or treating the enlarged prostate gland and relieving the symptoms that the patient suffers from. These instructions include:


  • Urinate when you feel the urge to urinate for the first time and do not delay it.

  • Going to the bathroom on a set schedule even when you don't feel like urinating.

  • Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.

  • Do not drink a lot of fluids at one time and distribute those fluids throughout the day.

  • Avoid drinking liquids at least two hours before bedtime.  Avoid taking decongestants or antihistamines.

  • Warm-up the body and avoid exposure to cold weather.

  • Exercise regularly.

  • Learn and perform Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles.

  • Reducing stress and nervous tension.


Pharmacotherapy.



If the previous lifestyle changes are not enough to relieve symptoms, the doctor may advise taking some medications that can help treat an enlarged prostate gland and relieve the symptoms that the patient is experiencing. These medications include:


Alpha-blockers: such as doxazosin, prazosin, alfuzosin, terazosin, and tamsulosin, help relax the muscles of the bladder and prostate and relax the bladder neck to facilitate urine flow.


Prostate-reducing medications: such as dutasteride and finasteride, reduce levels of hormones produced by the prostate gland and testosterone, which can reduce the size of the prostate and improve urine flow, but these drugs may lead to side effects such as impotence and decreased libido.


Antibiotics: In some cases, the doctor may prescribe some antibiotics if the prostate gland has become chronically inflamed due to bacterial prostatitis. Treating bacterial prostatitis with antibiotics may help improve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland by reducing inflammation.


surgery. 


Some minor surgical treatments or open surgery may be used to treat an enlarged prostate gland if the symptoms are moderate to severe and drug therapy has not helped relieve symptoms, or if the patient has kidney problems, urethral obstruction, bladder stones, or bleeding in the urine.



or if the patient requires definitive surgical treatment instead of medication, and surgical treatment options may not be appropriate for the patient if he or she has an active urinary tract infection or urethral stricture. 


or a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, or if he or she has a history of Medical treatment from radiation therapy to the prostate or in the case of previous urological surgery. Surgical treatments available include:


Transurethral resection of the prostate: A lighted scope is inserted into the urethra to remove the entire prostate gland except for its outer part.


Transurethral incision: A lighted scope is inserted into the urethra and one or two small incisions are made in the prostate gland to facilitate urine flow.



Transurethral Microwave Heat TherapyA special device is inserted into the urethra to emit microwaves that destroy the inner part of the enlarged prostate gland.


Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate: A lighted scope is inserted into the urethra that allows the doctor to place needles into the prostate gland, sending radio waves through these needles to heat and destroy the enlarged prostate tissue.


Laser treatment of prostate gland enlargement: where the high-energy laser destroys and removes the enlarged prostate tissue, and methods of laser treatment include the method of ablation and the method of complete excision.



Prostate elevation through the urethra: Special devices and markers are used to compress the sides of the prostate to increase urine flow.


Prostate embolization: In which blood flow to or from the prostate is selectively blocked, resulting in a reduction in the size of the prostate.


Open or robotic prostatectomy: The surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen to access the prostate and remove some tissue from it.


Any type of previous surgical procedure may cause some side effects and some complications, such as semen flowing backward into the bladder during ejaculation instead of out of the penis in what is known as retrograde ejaculation.


Temporary difficulty urinating may occur in addition to urinary tract infection, erectile dysfunction, and bleeding, and in rare cases, the patient may develop a loss of bladder control in what is known as urinary incontinence.

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