The prostate gland is an organ that is part of the reproductive system in males. This small gland sits below the bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the urethra. The prostate does a lot of different roles. You can actually feel the gland by placing a finger into the rectum and pressing it towards the body.
But the most important of them is the production of seminal fluid, which is a component of semen. It also plays a part in producing hormones and helps with regulating the flow of urine. The prostate is very small in size, roughly the size of a ping-pong ball. And on average weighs around 1 ounce.
Overview of Prostate Anatomy
Usually, the prostate’s anatomy is described in layers like that of an onion. There is an anterior zone which is the build of muscles and fibrous tissues, medically this zone is called the anterior fibromuscular zone. The second layer would be the peripheral zone which is located towards the back side of the gland. The majority of the glandular tissues sit at this spot.
The third layer would be the central zone, which surrounds the ejaculatory ducts. This spot makes up 25 percent of the total mass of the prostate. The fourth layer is the transition zone. This layer surrounds the urethra.
Urine and semen are expelled out of the body through the urethra, a narrow tube. This tube passes through the prostate. As the prostate surrounds the tube, any prostate issues can cause issues that might affect your urine flow. Due to its proximity to the urethra prostate issues manifests as poor bladder control, and urinary urgency but with a small quantity of urine, and difficulties starting or stopping while urinating. Prostate issues can also affect sexual functioning, Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or even kidney failure in extreme cases.
Enlarged prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a pretty common problem as men grow older. There is a tendency for the prostate to grow bigger as they age and such enlarged prostates might cause discomfort. It can result in pain in the lower back, groin, or at the tip of the penis.
Prostate Issues: An Overview
The prostate gland can be affected by several issues, including prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer, let’s dive into each of them.
1)Prostatitis
It is a painful condition caused due to the inflammation of the gland. It might be caused due to various reasons including bacterial infections. Generally, there are four types of prostatitis, namely, Acute bacterial prostatitis, Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis, Chronic prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, and Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
2) Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged in size. It is not cancerous. The cause of this condition is not clearly understood. However, it is found commonly in men aged around 50 and older, in men with a family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and in people with some medical conditions such as obesity, heart and circulatory functions, and type 2 diabetes.
3) Prostate Cancer
Back pain in men is even associated with prostate cancer in the later stages when cancer spreads to the bones. Back pain caused due to this cancer might have some additional problems like pain increasing with movement, worsening of pain at night or when lying down, experience stiffness in the back of the neck, might experience difficulty walking, lesser sensitivity to pain in cold and heat, numbness, weakness or tingling in legs or arms.
Do Prostate Issues Cause Back Pain?
Men need not worry about prostate issues just because they have back pain. When back pain is accompanied by earlier mentioned problems like trouble during urination or sexual functioning etc, it would be wise to take the issue to a doctor.
Taking care of your body is an integral part of maintaining good prostate health. Consuming a balanced diet, getting enough exposure to sunlight, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly are some of the best ways in which you can take care of your prostate.
Along with these, one must make sure to get tested or screened for such conditions, especially if you fall in the high-risk category or if your closest male members have suffered from any prostate conditions. Along with a balanced diet maintain a good level of hydration. Smoking is the top cause of death in men. They are also bad for prostate health. Managing stress will also be helpful.