When it comes to men’s health, having a healthy prostate can help prevent a lot of pain, discomfort, and future health problems. But what exactly are the signs you have a healthy prostate?
What Are the 10 Signs You Have a Healthy Prostate?
The prostate sits between the bladder and the penis, in front of the rectum. Through its center is the urethra, which allows for the passage of urine out of the body. The prostate is also responsible for nourishing and protecting the sperm and fluid secretion.
Here’s how to know if you have a health prostate.
You urinate at a normal frequency
One of the common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is needing to urinate more often, especially at night.
In a person with BPH, the prostate grows larger and starts to push against the bladder. This can eventually make the bladder weaker, and make a person more prone to urinating frequently since the bladder can no longer hold it in.
If you do not notice any change in the frequency of urination, or if you do not find yourself going to the bathroom more often at night, then it is a sign that your prostate is still healthy.
You do not see any blood or cloudiness in your urine
Ideally, your urine should always be clear, and a pale shade of yellow.
Blood or cloudiness in your urine could mean that there might be an infection in your bladder, or even your prostate. If you see any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to visit your doctor to get it checked.
You do not suffer from erectile dysfunction
One of the signs you have a healthy prostate is that you are still able to maintain an erection during intercourse.
While having BPH does not necessarily cause erectile dysfunction, most men with BPH do suffer from erectile dysfunction.
If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, it might be a good idea to get your prostate checked as well, just to make sure that there are no problems.
There is no pain or discomfort near your pelvic region
One of the most straightforward signs you have a healthy prostate is that you do not experience any pain or discomfort near your pelvic region.
Any sort of pain in this area is not normal, and you should definitely visit your doctor if you feel any pain, especially if it is near your lower back, or the tip of your penis.
You do not experience pain during ejaculation
One of the main functions of the prostate is to secrete fluid that mixes with semen and helps protect sperm cells.
So one of the signs of a healthy prostate is that you do not experience any pain during ejaculation. If there is pain or discomfort whenever you ejaculate, then it would be best to talk to your doctor about it.
Pain or discomfort during ejaculation is not normal, and it could potentially be a sign of a prostate problem.
You do not experience frequent urinary tract infections or UTI
Having a urinary tract infection is relatively common, and usually is not a cause for concern. However, if you are frequently suffering from a UTI, then it could potentially be a symptom of a bigger problem.
One of the reasons for frequently having UTIs could be due to BPH. As the prostate gets larger, it starts to push on the bladder. Aside from making it more difficult to urinate, this could also make the bladder more prone to infections.
There is no burning sensation when you urinate
This is somewhat related to having a UTI, as in some cases, urination can be painful for someone suffering from a UTI.
However, it could also mean that there is an infection in your prostate that might be causing the painful urination.
One main cause is when bacteria from your bladder travels to the prostate, which causes prostatitis or an inflammation of the prostate. This condition can be very painful, and aside from pain during urination, it can also cause pain in the pelvic region.
You find it easy to urinate, and do not have to “push” to clear your bladder
One of the signs you have a healthy prostate is that you do not need to exert any effort when you are urinating.
If you find yourself trying to push or having the feeling that your bladder still is not empty even after urinating, it could be a sign that you might have an enlarged prostate.
Having an enlarged prostate is not always a cause for concern, but it is very important to have it checked to make sure it does not grow too large and cause problems.
You do not have stones in your bladder
Bladder stones can be caused by a number of things, one of them being an enlarged prostate.
As the prostate presses into the bladder, this makes the bladder unable to empty itself completely, which can lead to the growth of bladder stones.
You do not suffer from low testosterone
One of the possible causes of BPH is that as a man grows older, the levels of testosterone in the blood start to decrease. This causes a hormonal imbalance that can potentially cause the prostate to start growing.
Aside from BPH, low testosterone can potentially cause erectile dysfunction, lack of sexual desire, and sleeping problems.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it would also be a good idea to get your prostate checked to make sure that you are not suffering from BPH.
How do you keep your prostate healthy?
To help ensure that your prostate remains healthy and free from any problems, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Eat more vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits have important vitamins and minerals that help keep your body healthy and free from disease.
- Engage in exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, or a total of 150 minutes each week. Staying active helps lower the risk of BPH, and also lowers the risk of other illnesses, such as heart disease and hypertension.
- Quit smoking. While smoking in itself doesn’t directly affect the prostate, it does increase a person’s risk for prostate cancer, as well as lung cancer and a host of other serious illnesses.
