As men age, the question ‘What is Normal Prostate Volume?’ becomes vital. Enlarged prostates can lead to urination difficulties, urgency, and even painful ejaculation. Prostate support supplements can offer relief. This chestnut-sized gland, located in front of the rectum and encircling the urethra, produces seminal fluid, aiding sperm movement.
Size
The prostate gland produces sperm and regulates urinary flow. For healthy men, its average size and weight should not exceed 20 grams (g). If your prostate expands beyond normal size and begins to cause symptoms like frequent urination or feeling as though your bladder hasn’t fully been empty yet, this condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), though this typically doesn’t pose any threat to overall health.
BPH occurs when the prostate expands and blocks urine flow from your bladder to outside your body. Symptoms may include feeling as though you haven’t fully emptied your bladder, slow or incomplete flow of urine and post-urination dribbling.
Measurement of prostate volume can be accomplished using various techniques, including step-section planimetry, one-dimensional (ellipsoid) measurements and three-dimensional ultrasound scanning. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is currently the go-to technique; typically used to estimate prostate volume by TRUS is using its standard formula of the prolate ellipsoid (H x W x L x p/6).
Studies comparing the accuracy of ellipsoid and bullet formulas with actual prostate measured volumes using TRUS or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have demonstrated that the prostate-derived 0.66 coefficient outshone the others, especially its ability to correlate measured prostate volumes with estimated ones. This may have been the result of specimens being freshly collected after excision and measured quickly prospectively rather than being stored in formaldehyde and measured retrospectively.
Symptoms
The walnut-sized prostate rests between the bladder and rectum, with its own tube running through it that transports urine from the bladder to the penis. Men as they age often experience prostate enlargement to such an extent that it presses against their urethra and causes urinary symptoms such as dribbling after urination or feeling that the bladder wasn’t completely emptying itself. Benign (noncancerous) prostate enlargement, more commonly referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, is extremely prevalent among men aged 50 or over. By age 60 it’s estimated that half will have BPH while by 85 almost 90% do. While BPH doesn’t increase risk of cancer or sexual dysfunction it can negatively impact quality of life and increase urinary tract infections significantly.
Doctors diagnose BPH by observing a patient while they urinate and conducting a digital rectal exam using a gloved finger inserted into the rectum. They will then ask patients about symptoms like weak urine flow or frequent urination; additionally they may run lab tests to check blood levels or screen for cancer.
Doctors may suggest lifestyle modifications or medications such as Tamsulosin or Finasteride to relax or shrink an enlarged prostate if urinary symptoms are mild, or none at all. They might also prescribe medications designed to relax or shrink it like Tamsulosin and Finasteride; otherwise they can perform surgery (Prostatectomy). They select which procedure best meets each patient’s size, symptoms, overall health status and desired results.
Diagnosis
The small prostate gland may not seem important, but it plays a critical role in male reproductive systems. The gland secretes part of the seminal fluid which mixes with sperm to form semen. Nestled deep within your body between your bladder and penis lies this hidden gem.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in which the prostate becomes enlarged, can also cause urinary symptoms including an urgent need or difficulty urinating and may lead to bladder or kidney issues over time. Men should discuss any troubling or disruptive urinary symptoms with their primary care provider or urologist in order to ensure optimal care and overall wellness.
Blood tests can detect prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, produced by the prostate gland. When PSA levels rise significantly, this could indicate cancer; however, an elevated PSA could also indicate urinary tract infection or simply being older.
Doctors use digital rectal exams and urine tests to evaluate a man’s prostate size; imaging techniques may also be utilized to ascertain if an enlarged prostate is causing any urinary symptoms. Transrectal ultrasound and cystoscopy are the two most frequently performed imaging tests on prostates by urologists; TRUS uses an internal probe inserted into the rectum for measuring both size and shape of prostate gland.
Treatment
The prostate sits just in front of and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body. Its main function is to secrete part of the seminal fluid that combines with sperm to produce semen. Furthermore, the prostate provides much of the smell associated with urination; when it becomes enlarged symptoms may be mild or nonexistent.
Diagnosing BPH requires the presence of an enlarged prostate during either a digital rectal exam or prostate ultrasound scan (TRUS). A urologist may advise regular appointments or treatments that reduce symptoms to monitor BPH effectively.
These can include medications to relax the bladder muscle, such as Tamsulosin, and finasteride or dutasteride, to shrinking prostate. Furthermore, patients can try herbal supplements like Saw Palmetto which may reduce urination frequency while increasing flow.
Surgery may be necessary for those suffering from high-volume enlarged prostates. An open prostatectomy involves making cuts in the stomach area to extract all or some of the prostate tissue, while transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP) could be effective options as well.
Even with appropriate treatment, some men with an enlarged prostate experience unpleasant side effects such as urinary incontinence or difficulty urinating. They can reduce these symptoms with medication and lifestyle modifications such as scheduling bathroom breaks regularly, drinking less liquid, and using the restroom shortly after waking each morning.
