Men often mistakenly think that the prostate is required for penile erection. But that is not quite the case. You need to know your prostate. Reading the following, you will learn more about… why men have a prostate!
What is the prostate?
It’s a gland
Located under your bladder and in front of your rectum, the prostate is part of your reproductive and urinary systems. It is about the size of a walnut and weighs no more than 20 grams. It is composed of 2 main lobes that surround your urethra, the canal that connects the bladder to the penis and transports urine and sperm out of the body.
A healthy prostate has a soft, spongy texture to the touch like a small, ripe plum. Because the back of the gland touches the rectum, a doctor can assess its size and consistency by performing a digital rectal exam
During childhood, your prostate is tiny. The prostate of a young boy is tiny. During puberty, when your voice changes and body hair begins to develop, your prostate gland, penis, testicles and scrotum also begin to grow due to an increase in the levels of testosterone (a male sex hormone).
Its main function
Your fertility
The prostate is considered one of the male reproductive organs because it secretes nutrients and liquid for sperm cells, ensuring their survival. The prostatic fluid is rich in enzymes, proteins and minerals that help protect and nourish your sperm cells. During sexual arousal, your prostate pushes the prostatic fluid into the canals into the urethra where it mixes with sperm cells and other fluids before being ejaculated as semen.
Your prostate secretes a particular protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA ), whose role is to liquefy semen – to facilitate the movement of your sperm cells – and keep it in liquid form after ejaculation.
What the prostate doesn’t do
Being responsible for your erections
There is a persistent myth that the prostate is required for penile erection. This explains why so many men who experience erectile dysfunction (ED) become worried that they may be suffering from prostate disease. It is true that the nerves required for normal erections are placed quite close to the prostate. However, the prostate itself is not involved in the mechanism of erection. If a man is experiencing ED, he should look elsewhere for the cause.
In short…
Put simply, the prostate contributes to male fertility by secreting substances that are essential to creating an environment in which sperm cells can survive. Without the prostate, “natural” fertilization is impossible.
Take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease with our expert lectures, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you.
Do you have any questions or concerns? Above all, do not hesitate. Contact us at 1 855 899-2873 to discuss with a nurse specializing in uro-oncology. It’s simple and free, like all our services.
Pages of our site that might interest you
Want to know more? Just click on one of the links below.
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Prostate related diseases
Can cancer be prevented?
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Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved – 2020
