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Introduction
As men become older, the number of times they have pass urine often increases and other symptoms may develop such as needing to go urgently, having to wait a long time to get started, a slow or interrupted flow rate and dribbling at the end of passing urine. These symptoms suggest there may be some obstruction to the outlet of the bladder that is preventing it from emptying as freely as usual. In older men this is usually caused by enlargement of the prostate gland and pressure on the urethra (the water pipe) that runs through the middle of it. In younger men the problem is more likely to be that the circular muscle (sphincter) at the bladder neck does not relax as it should when the bladder is emptying. Most men with these symptoms seek advice for one (or both) of two reasons. Firstly the symptoms may themselves be so troublesome that they need treatment. Secondly they may be worried that there is something serious going on, in particular prostate cancer. However, although prostate cancer can sometimes present with some of these symptoms, they are not specifically symptoms of cancer, but of having an enlarged prostate. This enlargement is much more often due to benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate, not prostate cancer. There is no evidence to suggest that men with these symptoms are any more likely to have or to develop prostate cancer than men of the same age who do not have these symptoms. However, particularly with the media coverage of prostate cancer, the worry about it is still what prompts many men to see their doctor about prostate symptoms.
Further Information: -
What and where is the prostate gland?
Investigation of the symptoms.
Treatment of the symptoms.
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