The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. As shown in the diagram below, it is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the neck of the bladder and the tube (urethra) that carries urine from the bladder. 

The prostate gland’s primary function is to secrete a slightly alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid, a fluid that carries sperm. In the course of a man’s sexual climax (orgasm), the muscular glands of the prostate help to propel the prostate fluid, in addition to sperm that was produced in the testicles, into the urethra. The semen then leaves the body out through the tip of the penis during ejaculation.

As a man gets older, his prostate may grow bigger and obstruct the flow of urine, or interfere with sexual function. An enlarged prostate gland - a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - may require treatment with medicine or surgery to relieve symptoms. This common benign prostate condition, which is not cancer, can cause many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer.

The Prostate Cancer Center at Saint Joseph’s can educate men about the signs and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Contact our Patient Navigator at (678) 843-5665 or e-mail rsevy@sjha.org to learn more.

Diagrams courtesy of National Cancer Institute (NCI), www.cancer.gov, © 2010. 

Information on this page is provided collaboratively by the team at the Prostate Cancer Center at Saint Joseph's and has been medically reviewed by Rajesh G. Laungani, MD, 2010. Claims regarding treatment are based on years of clinical experience and industry reported data. The PCC follows American Urological Association and  National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Last Updated: October 26, 2010 (RSH)