Everything You Need to Know About the Prostate Checkup
Everything You Need to Know About the Prostate Checkup
Scott is a men’s health and biohacking enthusiast for more than 15 years and is a retired triathlete. He currently works with numerous men's health websites and writes articles that focus on nutrition, natural remedies, and longevity.
Scott is a men’s health and biohacking enthusiast for more than 15 years. He currently works with numerous men's health websites and writes articles that focus on nutrition, natural remedies, and longevity.
Starting in their mid 40s to early 50s, men are suggested by doctors to have prostate checkups. The prostate, which is located between the penis and the bladder, an area of men’s body that is more important than you might think.
While the prostate in itself is not essential for life, it plays a highly vital role in reproduction. Healthy semen provides the ideal environment and consistency for sperm to pass through, survive, and eventually fertilize the female’s egg. Semen typically contains enzymes like Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) which is usually measured when screening for prostate cancer.1
Due to the proximity of the prostate gland to the urethra and bladder, prostate problems may exhibit itself in a range of urinary symptoms, especially in the preliminary stages. Some of the signs to look out for include:
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Prostate issues, especially in its early stages, involve several urinary symptoms: painful urination, frequent urge to urinate, urinary difficulties, and reduced velocity flow of urine, among others.
The process of self-diagnosis involves looking out for the signs to be aware of. If you notice that you’re exhibiting any, a PSA testing or self-testing would be the best option. PSA testing is available when recommended by a GP or a registered nurse. However, before you are advised to undergo such testing, you would need to meet some risk requirements first.
But if you’re not showing any signs but you simply want to allay your fears, you can purchase your own self-test kit. Afterward, you would provide a small blood sample and a private lab can help determine how much PSA is in your blood. Self-testing is a great way to spot prostate problems early.
Self-testing is the best way to spot early signs of prostate problem. You can purchase your own self-test kit which is available if recommended by a general practitioner of registered nurse.
While there is no specific diet that doctors recommend for treatment or prevention of prostate problems, there are some habits that should be avoided. Certain foods might increase the risk of prostate problems in men and cutting back has shown to have a positive effect. Here are some recommendations by experts:
Finally, it is essential to look out for symptoms that bear a close resemblance to those linked to prostate problems. Regular testing throughout the years is highly advised, especially for those at higher risks for various reasons.
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There are certain diet or foods to cut back to decrease the risk of prostate problems as recommended by experts. These include red or processed meat, salt, sweetened drinks such as fruits juices and sodas.
Supplements that aid prostate health usually possess the capability to help inhibit or prevent the processes that lead to prostate problems. These supplements, which are typically plant- or herb-based substances are known for inhibiting prostate enlargement, boosting urine stream strength as well as aiding in emptying of the bladder.
A recent clinical trial involved random administration of SPE (160 mg standardized extract twice daily) on a 67-year-old man with symptomatic BPH. At the end of the trial, scientists found that the man’s American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) baseline score reduced from 20 to only.7
Some of the best prostate supplements include Saw Palmetto Plus, ProstateMD and Proaxil are some of the best.
Prostate supplements inhibits causes that lead to prostate problems. These plant- or herb-based supplements such as saw palmetto are known to inhibit prostate enlargement, boosting urine stream, and helps empty the bladder.
A prostate exam serves as a preventative care procedure. It involves the process of looking for early signs that indicate a prostate problem, particularly in people who are not exhibiting any apparent symptoms. The screening aims to discover these signs at an early stage when treatment would be a lot more effective. Two tests are mainly used for screening for prostate cancer:
Note that while neither test is the basis for determining whether prostate cancer is present, they are used as preliminary data to confirm whether or not further tests should be carried out.
There are two different types of prostate exam: (1) Digital Rectam Exam (DRE) and (2) Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. DRE is the most common due to its simplicity and speed. While PSA is taking blood samples to see whether PSA levels are above than normal.
This is the most common way by which doctors examine the health of the prostate due to its simple and quick nature. For the test, you would bend at the waist while in a standing position or lay down on your side with your knees pulled towards your chest.
The doctor would then place a lubricated gloved finger in your rectum. One of their hands would press against your prostate while the other feel your pelvic area. It typically takes only a few moments. However, you may still feel some temporary discomfort or even the urge to urinate especially if your prostate is inflamed or enlarged. With this test, a doctor can confirm that your prostate’s size and shape are regular and it has zero risks.5
PSA, or Prostate-Specific Antigen, is a protein that helps in liquefying semen. For this test, your doctor may take a few blood samples to determine PSA levels in order to screen for cancer. While it is normal for some PSA to get into the bloodstream, a number of things can lead to PSA levels rising above normal, such as:
It is worth noting that some forms of prostate cancer may actually lead to your PSA being lower than usual. Due to the variability of prostate cancer, the PSA test can result in false-negatives and false-positives for prostate cancer. In this case, doctors will suggest for further testing to find the appropriate treatment.6
Prostate cancer is easier to treat if discovered at an early stage. The American Cancer Society (ACS) advises men to have their prostate checked at age 45 and should be part of their annual checkup.
There are no specific guidelines for when to have a conversation about getting a test with a doctor. However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) highly recommends that beginning from age 50, all men should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor.
The society also advises men who are deemed at a higher risk to have theirs beginning from age 45. Studies have also found evidence supporting the potential link between genetics and likelihood of getting prostate cancer.
Those who have at least one close relative that developed prostate cancer, the ideal age to have this conversation would be 40 years old . African-American men are especially more at risk if they have one or more first-degree relatives who developed prostate cancer before the age of 65.8
Prostate cancer is notably easier to treat if it is discovered at an early stage and hasn’t spread yet. Interestingly, certain types are slow-growing such that they do not typically require treatment. All of these are based on age and a number of other factors like family history, eating habits, as well as other genetic changes.
If you found yourself to be in any of the categories mentioned above, it is strongly recommended you should discuss this with your doctor and have prostate exams as part of your annual checkup.
