Prostate
Expert assessment and treatment of prostate conditions, including an enlarged prostate (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer.
Understanding the prostate
The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland that sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra — the tube that carries urine out of the body. It forms part of the male reproductive system and produces some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm.
Because of where it sits, even small changes in the prostate can affect how you pass urine. The gland also tends to grow slowly throughout adult life, which is why prostate-related symptoms become more common with age. Most prostate conditions are very treatable, particularly when assessed early, and many men with mild symptoms simply need monitoring rather than active treatment.
Conditions we treat
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — enlarged prostate
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that is extremely common as men get older. As the gland grows it can restirct the urethra and make the bladder work harder to empty.
A weak or interrupted urine stream, difficulty starting, a feeling of not fully emptying, needing to go more often, sudden urges, and waking overnight to urinate (nocturia).
Age-related hormonal changes are the main driver. Risk rises after 50 and where there is a family history.
Many men start with lifestyle measures and medications (to relax the muscle, or shrink the gland). When symptoms persist, minimally invasive options such as UroLift, or surgical procedures such as TURP or laser enucleation (HoLEP) can relieve the obstruction.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate. It can be a sudden bacterial infection or a longer-standing pelvic pain condition, and it can affect men of any age.
Pain in the pelvis, lower back or groin, burning or difficulty when urinating, frequent urination, and — in acute infection — fevers and feeling unwell.
Bacterial infection in some cases; in chronic pelvic pain syndrome there may be no infection at all.
Antibiotics for bacterial cases, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, pelvic-floor physiotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments such as good hydration and reducing bladder irritants.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australian men. Many prostate cancers grow slowly, but some are more aggressive, so individual assessment is important.
Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms, which is why screening matters. Later signs can include urinary changes, blood in the urine or semen, or pain in the back or hips if it has spread.
Increasing age, family history of prostate or breast cancer, and certain genetic factors raise the risk.
Depending on the type and stage, options range from active surveillance (careful monitoring) through to surgery (robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy), radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and hormone therapy. Treatment is always tailored to the individual.
PSA screening for prostate cancer
For men over 50 — or earlier where there is a family history — a conversation about prostate screening is worthwhile. Assessment may include a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and a clinical examination, and, where indicated, an MRI and a transperineal biopsy. Whether to test is a personal decision best made with your doctor, weighing your individual risk.
This page provides general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please consult a urologist about your individual circumstances.