Prostate & Bladder Problems

The bladder is a balloon-shaped organ in the lower abdomen, behind the pubic bone. It is responsible for storing and removing urine. The prostate is an exocrine gland in a man's pelvis, below the bladder. The prostate is responsible for producing some of the fluid in semen, keeping urine from mixing with semen and enhancing sensations during sex. Like other organs and glands, the bladder and prostate are vulnerable to infections, diseases and other medical problems.

Urinary Tract Infection

• A urinary tract infection affects the lower part of the urinary tract, which includes the bladder and urethra. It is caused by bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. An infection of the bladder, known as cystitis, is more common in females than males because their urethra is shorter and bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to the bladder. Symptoms of the infection include an urgent and persistent need to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, blood in the urine or hematuria, pain in the abdomen and/or a fever.

Urinary Incontinence

• Urinary incontinence can result from everyday habits or health problems. Bladder incontinence can be caused by alcohol, dehydration or overhydration, a urinary tract infection, constipation, pregnancy, bladder cancer, an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Symptoms of this condition include urination when coughing, sneezing or laughing; an intense need to urinate, followed by the immediate release of urine; a constant need to urinate; and/or a frequent release of urine.

Bladder Cancer

• Bladder cancer affects the lining of the bladder. Healthy cells in the bladder lining start to grow at an irregular rate and often form a tumor. People who smoke, work around certain chemicals and/or have a family history of bladder cancer are more at risk of bladder cancer. Symptoms of bladder cancer include frequent and/or painful urination, blood in the urine, abdominal pain and/or back pain.

Prostatitis

• Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate gland. It can be caused by bacteria or by other disorders or health problems, including immune or nervous system disorders, infections, diseased tissue or an injury. Symptoms of prostatitis include a burning sensation during urination; difficulty urinating; frequent urination; pain in the perineum, penis or testicles; and/or painful sensations during ejaculation. People with acute bacterial prostatitis, a form of prostatitis caused by bacteria, also may experience a fever, vomiting and/or nausea.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called benign prostatic hypertrophy, is a disorder that causes men to have an enlarged prostate. It results from an accumulation of dihydrotestosterone, a derivative of testosterone. Men older than 40 are at a greater risk for developing an enlarged prostate. Symptoms are hemoturia, a release of urine after going to the bathroom, a frequent urge to urinate, difficulty urinating and/or a weak or interrupted urine stream. Men with severe forms of benign prostatic hypertrophy sometimes experience acute urinary retention, or the inability to urinate.

Prostate Cancer

• Prostate cancer is caused by abnormal cells forming a tumor in the prostate's tissues. Prostate cancer progresses as the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes and tissues. Men who are older than 65, are African-American or Latino-American, have a family history of prostate cancer and/or have prostatic intraepithelial neoplasmia are more at risk for getting prostate cancer. Symptoms include an inability to urinate, difficulty beginning or stopping urination, the frequent need to urinate, painful sensations during urination, difficulty maintaining an erection and/or hemoturia.