The prostate is located in the male body, it surrounds the tube called the urethra and is located just below the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.  Until something goes wrong it is an area that many men never think about.

The urethra carries urine from the bladder when a man urinates; the prostate adds fluid to semen during ejaculation, which is also carried down the urethra

Some men under fifty years old experience a common prostate problem called prostatitis but many men over fifty years old experience prostate enlargement which is a common problem in the age group although there are treatments for it. Enlarged prostate is a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia which is much more prevalent then prostate cancer.

The condition prostatitis means that the prostate is swollen and most men who develop prostatitis feel a burning sensation when they urinate, some may also develop a fever or just feel tired.  It is known that men may also become impotent due to a prostate problem.

Testing for the condition prostatitis which is caused by germs usually involves your doctor looking through a microscope to find bacteria in a sample of your urine. Antibiotic medicine to fight the bacteria is what the doctor will prescribe for the condition. It is important when you begin taking the antibiotic to complete the course or the infection can come back twice as strong. Should the infection continue to return, you may have a defect in your prostate allowing bacteria to grow which can be corrected by surgery.

Occasionally the doctor will not find bacteria in the prostate and if no other causes are found, the doctor may determine that you have nonbacterial prostatitis which will not be helped by antibiotics. Nonbacterial prostatitis usually requires a different type of treatment such as changing your diet or lifestyle. It is important to consult your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.

For men over fifty years old having problems urinating could be suffering an enlarged prostate. The prostate continues to grow even in later years and when this happens it squeezes the urethra, which can affect bladder control making it difficult and painful to urinate. Signs of and enlarged prostate are a frequent and urgent need to urinate, especially at night, trouble starting a urine stream, and a weak stream of urine. One other sign is small amounts of blood in your urine.