What Is the Prostate Gland and What Does It Do?
The prostate is a male sex gland. It needs male hormones, primarily testosterone, to function. It is about the size if a walnut, and is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It produces a thick fluid that forms part of semen. The urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate as it leaves the bladder. As men age, their prostate increases in size. If it grows large enough it presses on the urethra. This is why urinary problems are usually the first sign of prostate problems. Usually the first thing you notice is that the flow of urine becomes weaker or slower, and you may have to go more often, especially at night. In by far the majority of cases, this has nothing to do with cancer. It is generally thought of as part of the normal aging process, and you don't have to do anything about it unless it bothers you to the point that you want to do something about it.
