The prostate is a combination of glands, ducts, and muscle tissue. It is part of the male reproductive system.
Approximately the size and shape of a walnut, the prostate is located low in the abdomen and sits below the bladder and directly in front of the rectum. The prostate is responsible for helping to produce semen – the fluid that carries sperm from the testicles through the penis during ejaculation and which is characterized by its milky consistency.
Additionally, the prostate partially surrounds the urethra through which urine leaves the bladder and exits the penis. Because of this, when the prostate becomes enlarged, there can be difficulty associated with urination including a weakened stream of urine and the inability to begin urination.
While not a condition that is a given, prostate enlargement is something that many men experience as they age. In fact, as men grow older, the prostate may eventually double – and even triple – in size. Prostate enlargement is most often not the result of prostate cancer.