Let’s start with the basics. Men have prostates (unless you have already had surgery and had it removed). It forms the area around your urinary tract between your testicles and your anus (I know not my normal verbiage but this is supposed to be somewhat professional). Prostates create most of the “fluid” that comes out during ejaculation. Testicles add the part with the swimmers.

You may never have any issues with your prostate YEA!! Some folks could have UTIs (urinary tract infections), enlarge prostate, prostate cancer or maybe enlarged prostate with “invasion” of the urinary tract.

Remember I am not a doctor… sooooo let’s start with one simple thought. Sometime 35 or YOUNGER get your PSA level checked. That gives you a benchmark of what is “normal” for YOU.

Here is the logic. You get to 45 or 55 and get it checked. It comes in higher than the docs thought it should be say… 3 or 4. So what is your normal. It should be 1.5 or lower in general. Maybe it is 2 at 45. What is what the DOC is for!!

So, what is YOUR normal level???

BTW you can’t count on your PSA level if you have an infection “down there”. That can through off your PSA level. So test when you feel ok.

What is an enlarged prostate?

Kinda exactly what it sounds like. It is bigger. The outer membrane “contains” the pulp. If the pulp keeps growing the pressure builds up. That puts pressure on the urinary tract….bam… you start having problems peeing.

That can also happen if the “pulp” invades the urinary tract. This can be treated with pills or TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate – i.e. roto rooter). I have had TURP and HoLEP for enlarged prostate. This is NOT for cancer. Totally about peeing issues.

Cancer is a whole can of worms on its own. There is aggressive and not aggressive cancer. This is where the PSA is super helpful.

My only thoughts on cancer is: 1) if you don’t feel “right” down there, go see the damn doctor. If something is wrong, EARLY is way better than late!! 2) most men will die with prostate cancer, so they say, but not the kind that will kill you…think 80 years old. 3) You know the phrase “use it or lose it”….yep healthy activity level helps keep it all working well. 20+- times a month (not sure when you can find the time for that but there).

Total aside…. did you know it takes about 90 days from semen to go from start to ready to come out!! 90 DAYS!! Hot tubs can virtually sterilize you if you are in them for 15 minutes 3 times a week!!! This info came from Dr Peter Attia’s podcast with Dr. Paula Amato (female health but had a LOT to do with men – #352) and another with Paul Turek (specifically men’s health and reproduction – #351). Dr. Attia’s podcasts are available on YouTube and most podcast sites.

Got a question? You are welcome to ask me OR my urologist Dr. Gregory Mitchell. Our in-house pelvic floor Dr. is Lance Frank.