Ailments and Situations - Prostate Disorders - Causes

 

Causes:

The exact reason why the prostate begins to grow after many years remains a mystery, but it is believed that it is related to a hormonal imbalance of testosterone in the male's body. Such imbalances are more common in older men. Autopsies of men who died suddenly reveal that although only 5% of men under forty show signs of BPH, that number soars to 90% after the age of eighty-five. Keep in mind however, that not all men with enlarged prostates experience symptoms of BPH.

Also crucial to the presence of BPH are functioning testes. Men who have had their testes removed at an early age never develop BPH, nor do men with congenital diseases that prevent the production of testosterone. The accumulation of testosterone and its relative, dihidrotestosterone, in the prostate is believed to be responsible for producing excess prostate cells -- ultimately causing the enlargement of the prostate. Urinary problems often result from BPH as an enlarged prostate causes physical obstructions that compromise the healthy functioning of both the urinary tract and the bladder.

Chronic prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, can also lead to BPH. Although this condition is normally acute and caused by bacterial infection or a sexually transmitted disease, a chronic condition can lead to early onset of BPH. Prostatitis normally occurs in young men.

 

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