Where is prostate

The prostate is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra the tube that empties urine from the bladder. It produces fluid that makes up a part of semen. As a man ages, the prostate tends to increase in size. This can cause the urethra to narrow and decrease urine flow. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it is not the same as prostate cancer.

Men may also have other prostate changes that are not cancer. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer that's detected early — when it's still confined to the prostate gland — has the best chance for successful treatment.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder in men and surrounds the top portion of the tube that drains urine from the bladder urethra. The prostate's primary function is to produce the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm seminal fluid. Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA.

A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue.

In time, some abnormal cells can break away and spread metastasize to other parts of the body. Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health. Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proved.

But eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health. Talk to your doctor about increased risk of prostate cancer.

If you have a very high risk of prostate cancer, you and your doctor may consider medications or other treatments to reduce the risk. Some studies suggest that taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, including finasteride Propecia, Proscar and dutasteride Avodart , may reduce the overall risk of developing prostate cancer. These drugs are used to control prostate gland enlargement and hair loss.

However, some evidence indicates that people taking these medications may have an increased risk of getting a more serious form of prostate cancer high-grade prostate cancer. If you're concerned about your risk of developing prostate cancer, talk with your doctor. Prostate cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. The bladder is like a balloon that gets larger as it fills with urine. The urethra, a narrow tube that connects to the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate and along the length of the penis, carrying both urine and semen out of the body. It is the hose that drains the bladder. The rectum, which sits right behind the prostate, is the lower end of the intestines and connects to the anus.

Prostate Zones The prostate is divided into several anatomic regions, or zones. Most prostate cancer starts in the peripheral zone the back of the prostate , near the rectum. Difficulty with urination is usually not a symptom of prostate cancer. In most cases, lower urinary tract symptoms are due to Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy BPH , which is a non-cancerous prostate condition that typically develops from the transition zone that surrounds the urethra, or urinary tube closer to the middle of the prostate.

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