Why You Should Take Prostate Health Exams

Prostate health exams are important as men grow older. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in men. There is a high probability that anyone knows someone who has suffered from it. Unfortunately, few men are actually aware what the prostate even is - much less are aware of preventive measures that they can take to combat prostate cancer.

Before men start learning what prostate health exams are, it is essential for them to know more about what the prostate really is. The prostate is a small gland, about the size of a walnut. It is positioned near the base of the bladder and urethra. The organ is responsible for producing the slightly alkaline substance that appears in semen.

There are many prostate ailments that are not extremely serious. Usually, men with prostate ailments have difficulties with urination or sexual activity. Many have simple infections or inflammation which can be treated with medication. While many men do have serious and advanced forms of prostate cancer, most men who discover it early have an excellent survival rate. This only stresses the importance of prostate health exams. Unfortunately, because of the lack of education on this disease, many men aren't getting regular prostate health exams.

The key to prostate cancer is early detection. Because prostate cancer symptoms are hard to detect, getting prostate health exams is the only way to have a more accurate diagnosis. There are many types of prostate health exams available for men. Most are not difficult at all but they may be embarrassing for men. They should always consult with their doctors about what prostate health exams are best for them. Below are some of the alternatives.

Prostate-specific antigen This is one of the easier prostate health exams out there. It is a simple blood test which determines the number of prostate-specific antigens. Large amounts of prostate-specific antigens could indicate a problem.

Digital rectal examination This is another alternative amongst prostate health exams. The doctor will feel the prostate manually to look for abnormalities.

Transrectal ultrasound This is an ultrasound for the prostate.

Cystoscopy In this test, the doctor looks through the urethra by passing a thin tube that is lighted.

Biopsy This involves the study of a small tissue sample collected from the prostate.

Ideally, men should have prostate health exams when they reach the age of 50. However, men who experience pain in their prostate anytime should have prostate health exams immediately just to be sure.