Prostate conditions

What are prostate conditions?

The prostate is a gland located below the bladder. The urethra passes from the bladder through the prostate and penis to the outside. The prostate produces the fluid in which sperm cells swim. In the event of an ejaculation, this fluid is released via the urethra. The prostate can be enlarged, especially in older men. This is usually a benign condition (benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia), but there may also be a malignant tumour (prostate cancer). There may also be an inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis).

What are the complaints associated with a prostate condition?

An enlarged prostate causes a change in urination patterns such as problems with starting to urinate, a weaker jet, urging that is difficult to control, inadequate evacuation of the bladder and increasing urination frequency both during the day and at night.

Prostatitis makes it difficult to urinate (this complaint arises in a short period of time) and pain around the anus.

How common are prostate conditions in the general population?

Benign prostatic hypertrophy occurs in 8% of men aged over 40, 60% of men over 70 and 90% of men over 80.  ⁴¹⁵

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men; the annual incidence rate in men is 0.125% ⁶⁰⁵  and the one-year prevalence rate is 0.45%. ⁴¹⁵  Over the age of 50, the number of new cases of prostate cancer increases sharply with age.

The one-year prevalence of prostatitis is 0.29%. ⁴¹⁶

How common are prostate conditions in people with intellectual disabilities?

This is not known for benign prostate hypertrophy and prostatitis.
A study of cancer incidence in people with intellectual disabilities found that the risk of prostate cancer was five times lower in men. ⁴¹⁷ , ⁴¹⁸