Brief Discussion on the Prostate 2001.3.15

Brief Discussion on the Prostate 2001.3.15

The prostate is located beneath the bladder, surrounding the urethra. It resembles a small chestnut, weighing only about 20 grams, and grows under the stimulation of testosterone. In essence, it thrives when there is testosterone and dies without it. During childhood, it appears only as a skin fold; when the testes begin to develop during adolescence, the prostate starts to grow. From ages 16 to 65, the prostate is highly active, secreting prostatic fluid to dilute semen and optimize its composition for sexual intercourse. Overuse can lead to prostate enlargement or infection, while excessive restraint can cause prostate atrophy. After age 65, the prostate gradually ceases to develop due to declining testosterone levels, eventually being replaced by connective tissue proliferation. Senile prostatic hypertrophy falls into this category.