7 Facts You Didn't Know About Your Prostate

Pop quiz: Can you name the walnut-shaped organ that sits just below a man’s bladder? If you guessed prostate, you’re right. But for a lot of people, a vague idea of where this vital organ lies is the extent of their prostate knowledge. Prostate cancer kills some 34,000 men each year, and the number of diagnoses has slowly risen, jumping 3% between 2014 and 2019. Now, more than ever, it is vital to promote education about prostate conditions in order to spread awareness.

Like we’ve done with other blog posts on the benefits of early prostate cancer diagnosis and helpful tips for those diagnosed with prostate cancer, we’re upping the ante on awareness today with seven facts you didn’t know about your prostate.

1)    Having an enlarged prostate does not increase your risk of getting cancer

More formally known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate is the most common prostate ailment for men aged 50 and older. In fact, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, some 14 million American men have symptoms associated with BPH. But what’s important to know is that an enlarged prostate does not reflect prostate cancer, nor does it mean you have a heightened risk of developing it down the road. This confusion often occurs because both BPH and prostate cancer symptoms can be similar in nature.

2)    Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis

Another extremely common condition for men to experience is inflammation of the prostate, otherwise known as prostatitis. Remember how BPH was the most common condition for men over age 50? Prostatitis is the most common prostate condition for those under age 50. The two main types of prostatitis are chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Both types can be painful and also result in sexual dysfunction and inflammation of organs near the prostate, among other complications. 

3)    The prostate is vital for sperm production

Despite its small size, the prostate plays a crucial part in reproduction. It produces prostatic fluid, which comprises enzymes, proteins and minerals, that help sperm function properly. About 20% to 30% of semen is made up of prostatic fluid, with components of the fluid ensuring the sperm is viable and capable of fertilizing eggs for reproduction. 

4)    The prostate has four main areas

Have we mentioned the prostate is small? Nevertheless, this tiny-but-mighty organ has four unique zones. The peripheral zone is where most of the glandular tissue is found. The anterior zone is also known as the anterior fibromuscular zone because it consists of muscle and fibrous tissues. The central zone is where the ejaculatory ducts reside. And the transition zone is what surrounds the urethra—this is the part of the prostate that continues to grow beyond puberty. 

5)    Black men are at an increased risk for prostate cancer

Numerous medical studies show that Black men are both at an increased risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer. Unfortunately, researchers still aren’t exactly sure why this happens, but Black men are twice as likely to die from the disease. As a result, Black men should be vigilant about prostate health and have early and frequent conversations with their doctors about preventive screenings. Andrew Laccetti, an oncologist with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, warns: “Screening guidelines have been based on studies that included very few Black men, so they may underestimate the screening benefit for this group.”

6)   Prostate cancer may not even require treatment

The stage of prostate cancer will ultimately guide providers in a direction for how to handle a diagnosis—but for a lot of men, that could mean active surveillance. As we wrote about on the Promaxo blog in 2021, active surveillance for prostate cancer is the process of monitoring how a patient’s cancer is evolving. This includes routine visits to your care team and regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, digital rectal exams and prostate biopsies. For more specifics on the mechanics of active surveillance, check out the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s active surveillance testing schedule.

7)    Preventive screening saves lives

While it’s true that prostate cancer kills thousands each year,  More than 80% of all prostate cancers are detected when the cancer is confined. Catching the cancer before it spreads is critical to better outcomes, which is why the five-year survival rate in the U.S. for men with early-stage prostate cancer is nearly 100%. The earlier the disease is caught, the better the patient’s chances of living a long and full life.

Men’s health remains our focus at Promaxo as we strive to enhance the quality of care and patients’ lives through customer-centric technological solutions that redefine the standard of care. Whether through the Promaxo MRI System or educational pieces like this blog post, we couldn’t be prouder to play even a small part in keeping men in better health and more in tune with their bodies.