Medical Questions » Prostate Gland Questions » Question No. 811
| Question: | I am 72 and 1 can' t pee very well any more. I have to stand for ages, and then go back again after half an hour. What can I do to speed things up? |
| Answer: | The tube from the bladder to the outside in men runs through a golf ball sized gland called the prostate before passing along the penis. The prostate gland is responsible for secreting part of the semen a man ejaculates during sex. There is no female equivalent.
As a man ages, the prostate slowly enlarges, putting pressure on the urethra (the urine carrying tube) so that it is narrowed, and the urine has difficulty in passing. When you go to the toilet, the bladder is usually not emptied completely because of inadequate pressure to keep the narrowed tube open. Therefore the urge to pass urine comes on again after only a short period of time.
The enlargement of the prostate gland is normally benign in older men, but it can be due to a cancer. For this reason it is essential for any man with a poor urinary stream to be checked by a doctor. If a benign enlargement is the cause, a simple operation will set the problem right, and you will rejoin the jet set!
|
|
|
