It can be your greatest nightmare. Suddenly an area that never gave you trouble is causing havoc in your life. Urinating becomes a challenge and a large part of your day. Sexual relations become impossible. And you are sitting on the problem. Prostate problems and prostate cancer can be traumatizing, but just a few changes and precautions can help most men have a healthy, happy prostate.

In a way, the prostate is a bit like love—it can make you feel fantastic, slowly give you trouble, make it hard to pee and give you cancer. Well, OK, the prostate isn't like love at all, actually. It's really important, though, on this you can be assured. Located near the rectum and scrotum, the prostate is part of a man's reproductive system, helping produce some of the seminal fluid. A healthy prostate is donut-shaped and about the size of a walnut.

When Prostates Go Bad

There are three common diseases that affect the prostate: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer. Each affects the prostate differently:

• BPH: In common lingo, this is known as having an enlarged prostate. Most common for men over the age of 50, the enlargement will tend to cause problems with urination, such as frequent urination, trouble starting to urinate, and a weak flow while urinating. Treatment for BPH depends on the individual. Many times lifestyle changes can improve this condition. In more serious cases, however, where BPH is hurting one's quality of life, drugs, such as alpha-blockers, can be prescribed. Surgery is a final option.
• Prostatitis: This is an inflammation of the prostate. Symptoms include lower back pain, pain while urinating, and painful sexual climaxes. Antibiotics are often used as a treatment.
• Cancer: Affecting as many men as breast cancer affects women, prostate cancer will cause the deaths of more than 30,000 men in the U.S. this year. Symptoms include trouble starting and stopping urination, pain while urinating and achieving sexual climax, and painful erections. With early testing, however, prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable.

Who needs a prostate exam?

If you are female or a child, feel free to take your prostate, or lack of one, for granted. Everyone else should give it some thought. To be more exact, males should have a prostate exam if:

• They have any symptoms of BPH, prostatitis, or prostate cancer.
• Are in their mid-to-late 40s.
• Have a family history of prostate cancer.
• Are African-American and entering their mid-30s (prostate cancer is prominent among African-American males).

What is a Prostate Exam?

So you're thinking about a prostate exam, but are nervous about what that pertains. Will you need a hug afterward? Well, while hugs are universally considered a positive thing, you should be just fine. Currently, prostate exams consist primarily of:

• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): This exam is used to detect any abnormalities in the rectum. The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for anything that is not normal. There's just no way of making this sound different from what it is. Trust us, however, it won't be as bad as you think and it's a simple, yet vital test for prostate health. And perhaps your doctor will send you flowers afterward.
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: PSA is a protein and part of the semen produced by certain cells in the prostate gland. Most of the PSA produced is removed from your body via semen, but a miniscule amount escapes into the blood stream. An abnormal PSA reading can be a strong indicator of potential or ongoing prostate problems. An added plus: As opposed to the DRE, the PSA is screened by a simple blood test.
• Transrectal Ultrasound Test: Yes, the name is terrifying. It's a scientific fact that anything with the word “transrectal” in it can't be good. However, this is a simple ultrasound test that examines the prostate and surrounding areas. No radiation is present and you'll feel no discomfort whatsoever, aside from possibly just being a little weird.

  How Often Should Your Prostate Be Examined?

  A recent European study has shown that a full prostate exam every four years should do the trick, and if the Europeans say so, it must be true.

  When should you begin getting prostate exams?

  This really is the heart of the matter. Most medical organizations and doctors will tell you to begin getting prostate exams around your 50th birthday. However, if you have any signs of symptoms at any age, a prostate exam is probably a good idea, regardless of what those know-it-all Europeans say. Again, if caught early, there is nearly a 100 percent chance of surviving prostate cancer.

  Simply Put: A Little Caution Will Save Your Life

  Lets not try to glamour this up, prostate problems are a drag and even reading about it can make many males uneasy. That you're even reading this is a good step, however, as few choose stories on prostate exams as recreational reading. It all comes down to a simple theory: Like all health issues, burying your head in the sand will not help. Ignoring prostate trouble can lead to the eventual removal of your prostate in a best-case scenario or death in the worst case.