The Prostate and Bladder Health
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland within the pelvic cavity in men. It is responsible for producing the seminal fluid in semen. The prostate surrounds the urethra and sits just below the bladder.
Dysfunction of the prostate is most commonly caused by:
- Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostatitis
The Prostate and Aging
As men age the prostate may enlarge. This is known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This enlargement is not cancerous. Pressure is placed on the bladder and urethra causing urinary symptoms. It is more common in men over 50. In extreme cases urinary retention may occur which can lead to an infection or compromise of the urinary system.
Signs of BPH
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary urgency
- Difficulty initiating stream
- Weak urine flow
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It often is a slow developing cancer and can be missed until in the later stages. Prostate cancer can invade nearby pelvic organs and cause obstructions within the urethra. Treatment of prostate cancer including but not limited to surgery and radiation therapy can also effect pelvic organs and cause dysfunction.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
- Difficulty urinating
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pelvic pain
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, caused mainly by bacteria. The most common symptom is pelvic pain.
Other symptoms include:
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary discomfort
- Pain
- Burning
- Stinging
- Poor urinary flow
- Pelvic pain in
- Bladder
- Low back
- Rectum
- Throbbing sensation in perineum
- Fever and chills (often only with an acute infection)
- Urethra discharge during bowel movement
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low libido
Prostatitis is treated medically by your physician. Some individuals with chronic prostatitis experience ongoing bladder dysfunction which can impact quality of life. Pelvic health physical therapists help individuals regain bladder control. This involves strengthening and training the pelvic floor muscles to effectively coordinate bladder and bowel control.
Ways to Maintain Good Bladder Health
Many simple lifestyle changes can be made to improve bladder health.
These include:
- Annual checkups with your primary care physician
- Eat a balanced diet
- Daily exercise
- Maintain good hydration
Early detection is key with bladder health. There are many treatment options available and within pelvic health physical therapy there are various interventions that can help you meet your medical goals. Pelvic health physical therapy has shown good results with bladder retraining and pelvic floor muscle training programs.
Here to Help
We are here with all your pelvic health related questions. Our pelvic health physical therapists have over 20 years of combined experience. All of our treatment rooms are private and we have a mini gym in the clinic including a Pilates reformer. All of our physical therapists have a certification in Pelvic Rehabilitation which involves additional continued training and examination of competency.
