Sex and the prostate

Heather Little-White, Contributor

All men want to have a satisfying sexual relationship and they want their partners to enjoy sex as well. As men go through the life cycle, they want a fulfilled sex life in which they are happy and secure about their sex lives even into their senior years. Men would never want their sex lives to be ruined by erection and other sexual problems as a result of prostate disease. Sex is a physical need, like eating or sleeping or breathing. For a healthy male, regular release of prostate fluid is necessary to maintain good prostate health.

Prostate disease is a sexual problem, although some men do not see it as such. This is why men are encouraged to get their prostate tested to prevent any sexual problems that may arise later in life. There is the tendency for men and women, too, to shy away from examination of the genitals seeing those parts as 'private'. Besides, there is the feeling that any problems with the genitals are a natural part of ageing.

Prevalence

With public education, the resistance of men to having their prostate checked is diminishing, but all men over the age of 40 need to place priority on getting tested. What are the facts on the general prevalence of the disease?

The risk of sexual dysfunction in men and prostate disease is more likely as they increase in age.

Prostate cancer is hardly likely before age 40, but more men develop prostate cancer by age 65.

Nearly half of men over age 65 suffer from benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) (www.prostate-research.org.uk).

Why so much concern about this 'little' gland? The prostate gland lies around the urethra just below the bladder and its primary function is the production of fluid in the semen. The muscular composition of the prostate allows it to help expel semen during ejaculation. The prostate gland at birth is about the size of a pea and will grow to the size of a walnut as a man ages. The prostate gland is prone to inflammation, so some men will experience extra growth of the prostate during ageing manifesting as prostate cancer or benign prostatic enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Enlarged prostate

When the prostate becomes enlarged, it presses down on the urethra and interferes with the normal flow of urine, resulting in blocking of the urethra, gradual loss of bladder function with partial emptying of the bladder regularly. Benign means non-cancerous, so BPH may not lead to prostate cancer but symptoms may be similar in frequent urination, feeling the urge to all the time, and dribbling.

One of the early indications of an irregular prostate gland is that men may feel a little burning as a result of prostatitis, an infection of the prostate gland. In some instances, there may be no symptoms which is even more reason why regular checks by your doctor is important.

Urinary tract infection

Men may suffer from prostatatis at some time in their lives. They could be suffering from acute bacterial prostatitis which is a sudden infection and inflammation of the prostate. Men with this condition experience acute urinary tract infection with pain in the pelvis, genital area and increase frequency in urination accompanied by chills, fever and vomiting. When urinary tract infections occur, bacterial prostatitis has become chronic with infections entering the prostate gland. Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is the most common form of the disease with urinary and genital pain but no bacteria in the urine.

Special care should be taken of the prostate to prevent disease and cancer through special attention to nutrition and lifestyle choices. As research continues, there is a strong indication that there is a link between the types of foods eaten during childhood to adulthood creating a risk for prostate cancer over a man's lifetime. It is well-established that good nutrition through lavish amounts of fruits and vegetables, low-fat diets and 20 minutes of exercise daily can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Nutrition

Other recommendations for good nutrition include:

1. Reducing the total calories from fats and using fats from plant sources.

2. Soybeans and lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables such as pink grapefruits, watermelon and tomatoes are protective for the prostate gland.

3. Moderate amounts of fish with fatty acids like herring, salmon and mackerel protect against prostate cancer.

4. Men who are overweight may increase the levels of hormones related to the risk of prostate cancer.

Sex and prostate cancer

The question is often asked if sex has anything to do with prostate cancer.

The debate continues as to whether a man who has frequent sex may pick up a sexually transmitted infection which could infect the prostate, cause inflammation and other complications of the prostate. Other researchers feel that more sex may actually decrease the risk of prostate cancer as regular ejaculation has a cleansing effect on the housing of the prostate, harbouring less cancer-causing agents, infection and stagnant material that could lead to inflammation of the prostate.

What is important though is that men over 40 should get their prostate checked regularly so as not to get prostate cancer which is debilitating.

With prostate cancer, men do not feel like having sex and they cannot get an erection. Many feel that they will not have a sex life after surgery. However, with the help of doctors and a supportive partner, one's sex life after surgery does not have to die.

Disease management

As with any kind of disease, prudent management is important in maintaining the sex drive as a result of an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Reducing smoking, alcohol consumption and stress are critical factors in prostate disease management. There are several recommended herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids which have been used successfully to improve the sex drive and to help men with prostate problems.

The prostate gland is vital to a man's sexuality and only by getting regular check-ups can men over 40 ensure that they may avert prostate problems and subsequent sexual dysfunction and a frustrated spouse.