What Does the Prostate Gland Actually Do?
The prostate gland isn't essential for life, but it is vital for reproduction and is part of the male reproductive system.
The function of the prostate is to produce a slightly alkaline (high pH) fluid — called the prostatic fluid — that makes up part of the seminal fluid, or semen.
The rest of semen is composed of sperm cells from the testicles, fluid from the seminal vesicles, and secretions from the pea-sized bulbourethral gland.
The prostatic fluid contains substances that are important to the functioning and survival of sperm cells, such as the enzyme prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which thins or loosens up semen, helping the tadpole-like sperm cells swim freely to reach the egg.
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Other important components of prostatic fluid include an enzyme called prostatic acid phosphatase, citric acid, zinc, spermine (which plays a vital role in cellular metabolism) and prostatic inhibin (a protein involved in cell growth regulation). (5)
During an orgasm, prostate muscles squeeze the gland's stored fluid into the urethra, where it mixes with the sperm cells and other semen components.
This expulsive process also helps propel the semen out of the body during ejaculation. (3)
Prostatitis: A Common Prostate Problem in Younger Men
Prostatitis, or prostate inflammation, is the most common prostatic and urinary tract problem for men under age 50, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It accounts for 2 million doctor visits in the United States each year. (8)
There are several types of prostatitis.
Prostatitis caused by bacteria is known as bacterial prostatitis, and it can cause an acute (short term) or chronic infection.
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Nonbacteria microbes may cause a different type of chronic prostatitis, known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which may also develop as a result of chemicals in the urine, a urinary tract infection, or pelvic nerve damage.
Affecting 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. male population, chronic pelvic pain syndrome is the most common type of prostatitis, but also the least understood.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of prostatitis, but can include urination problems, pain (from the perineum to the penis and scrotum to the central lower abdomen and lower back), fever, and body aches, among other things.
Some people develop asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, in which the prostate is inflamed but doesn't produce any symptoms or require treatment.
Bacterial prostatitis is most often treated with antibiotics. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome may require drugs, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
Over time, prostatitis may cause sexual dysfunction, abscesses in the prostate, inflammation of nearby reproductive organs, and infection of the bloodstream. (8,9)
Learn More About Prostate Problems and Complications
Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment
Aside from prostatitis and BPH, another common prostate issue is prostate cancer.
Excluding skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among American men, according to the American Cancer Society. About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
The risk of developing prostate cancer is higher for men who are over age 65, are African-American, or have a family history of the disease. (12)
Most often, prostate cancer develops slowly, but some men develop an aggressive form of the disease.
Early prostate cancer generally doesn't cause any symptoms. Symptoms generally develop as the disease progresses and include:
- Urination issues
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bloody semen
- Bone pain (particularly the hips, spine, and ribs)
- Numbness of the legs and feet
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
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But most of these symptoms can also be caused by other problems.
Primary treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.
Prostate cancer has a high 5- to 15-year survival rate, though the disease can often be deadly if it spreads to distant lymph nodes, bones, or other organs. It is still the second leading cause of cancer death in American men (behind lung cancer).(12,13)
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