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Privacy NoticeKing Charles, 75, won praise for revealing that he has needed treatment for an enlarged prostate, and for good reason. This walnut-sized gland may start off small, but over time it causes trouble for nearly 50% of men. Yet it’s something many of us know little about. So what exactly is the prostate, and what symptoms should we – and the men in our life – be looking out for? “The prostate sits underneath the bladder,” explains Hamid Abboudi, prostate disease expert and consultant urologist at New Victoria Hospital and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. “It produces a fluid that mixes with sperm to produce semen, and starts around the size of a walnut. But when men are in their thirties, it often begins to grow. While a normal prostate weighs around 25g, an enlarged prostate can reach the size of a tennis ball, weighing as much as 500g.”
King Charles III has needed treatment for an enlarged prostate
(Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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Sounds painful, doesn’t it? It can certainly prove uncomfortable. While it’s not usually a health threat, an enlarged prostate can press on the bladder and urethra, restricting the flow of urine and causing erectile issues. “By their forties, around 15% of men have symptoms of an enlarged prostate,” explains Mr Abboudi. “That increases to around 40% in their sixties. The symptoms are similar to prostate cancer, but that is less common. Either way, it’s important to get any changes checked out.” Buckingham Palace hasn’t revealed the details of the King’s corrective procedure, but treatments range from lifestyle changes such as cutting out caffeine and alcohol to medication and surgery. Diagnosis is straightforward, too. “A patient usually has a physical exam, which involves the doctor inserting a finger in the back passage,” says Mr Abboudi. “They’ll also fill in a bladder diary to assess how much they drink and urinate. They might be referred to a urology clinic or for more specialist tests, like an ultrasound.” Unfortunately though, men are often embarrassed and delay seeking help from their GP. “If you think your partner is showing signs of a prostate problem, encourage them to see their doctor,” urges Mr Abboudi. “Whatever the outcome, an earlier diagnosis always offers the best chance of treatment.” Here, we explain the prostate symptoms to watch out for…
An enlarged prostate can press on the bladder and urethra
(Image: GETTY)
Frequent urination “Look out for your partner going to the loo more often,” says Mr Abboudi. “That could include getting up at night to urinate more than once, or regularly rushing off to the toilet when you’re watching TV. It can cause a lot of social embarrassment, and you might notice that they start restricting their fluid intake too, in the hope it will help reduce the urge to wee.” Struggling to pee Have your partner’s toilet trips turned from a quick pit stop to a prolonged affair? If so, they may be struggling to empty their bladder. “An enlarged prostate blocks the urethra, so it can take a long time for the urine to start flowing,” explains Mr Abboudi. “And afterwards, they might still feel they haven’t quite emptied their bladder.” Slow flow Granted, you’re unlikely to notice this if you don’t share a bathroom, but another classic symptom is a reduced flow of urine. “If your partner’s flow has slowed to a dribble, when they used to put out fires, that suggests there could be a problem,” explains Mr Abboudi.
If you’re showing signs of a prostate problem, you shouldn’t be embarrassed to see a doctor
(Image: GETTY)
Inability to wee Left untreated, an enlarged prostate can make it impossible to urinate. “This is very painful,” says Mr Abboudi. “It can lead to kidney damage or failure, and can even be life threatening, so it’s important you get checked and treated right away. Treatment usually involves having a tube called a catheter inserted into the bladder, to drain it.” Erectile issues It’s not uncommon for men to struggle to get an erection from time to time, especially if they’re stressed or have had a few drinks. But a persistent problem could be linked to an enlarged prostate. “Men can struggle to get or maintain an erection,” says Mr Abboudi. “There’s also a link between an enlarged prostate and reduced libido.” ‘Women need to know the symptoms as well’ Stella Baughan, 53, lives in Kent with her husband Steve, who’s also 53. She urged him to seek help after noticing his flow was slower than usual…
Stella Baughan encouraged her husband Steve to seek medical attention
(Image: Supplied)
“One night in November 2021, I woke up when Steve went to the toilet. He often needed the loo in the night, but I noticed it was taking a long time for him to start urinating. Then, when he did begin, his flow was much weaker than usual. When I mentioned this to him the next morning, he said he’d just assumed things were slowing down because he was getting older, but I urged him to see the GP just in case. Thank goodness he did, because after a rectal examination, the doctor said Steve’s prostate was enlarged. He didn’t think it was too much to worry about, but he sent him for blood tests just to be sure, and that led to a scan and biopsy. We genuinely didn’t think it would be serious, so we were shell-shocked when Steve was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Four weeks later, in January 2022, he had a prostatectomy, where the prostate is removed, and we later learnt it was just in time. The cancer was stage 3 and could have spread to other parts of his body if left untreated. Thankfully, Steve now has the all clear, but I tell everyone it’s not just men who need to know about the symptoms of prostate problems. Wives, girlfriends, sisters and mums need to be alert to them, too – it could even save a life. If Steve hadn’t gone to the GP when he did, it could have been a very different story.” For advice and support from Prostate Cancer UK, visit prostatecanceruk.orgStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHealthKing Charles III
