The prostate is the male sexual organ located at the base of the bladder, surrounding the first part of the urethra.  The urethra is the channel that connects the bladder to the exterior.  The primordial function of the prostate is to produce the seminal fluid that transports the sperm.

Habitually from the age of 50 onwards most males begin to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) or benign growth.   In many of them, the prostate grows sufficiently large as to obstruct the urethra and cause difficulty in urinating.

The symptoms of the benign growth tend to be:

• Urinating with frequency, especially at night.
• Sudden or urgent need to urinate.
• Reduction in the thickness and strength of the urine flow
• Pain or difficulty when urinating
• Sensation of not completely emptying the bladder
• Loss of urine and dripping when urination has finished.
• Delay in the start of urination and interrupted flow

Another disorder that could be originated in the prostate, is cancer.  Its incidence increases with age and, unlike BHP, tends to exhibit few symptoms.  When symptoms caused by the cancer do start to appear, it may be too late to cure, this is the reason why nowadays early detection programmes are in place based on exploration (rectal examination) and determination of the PSA (prostate specific antigen) in the blood.