There’s nothing fruity about getting an exam for prostate cancer. If you are having problems urinating, your doctor may perform test to see if you have an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This condition is the most common cause of urination problems. It’s suggested that all men over 30 get a prostate exam whether it is digital rectal exam (DRE), or by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood exam.

In 2008, over 232,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and of that number, over 30,000 of those diagnoses will unfortunately, be fatal. It is estimated that over 2 million men are living with an enlarged prostate. Prostate cancer is the second cause of cancer related deaths among men in the United States.

The prostate is a walnut size gland located just below the bottom of the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the body. The problem is because of its location, when the prostate gland is enlarged, it’s capable of creating incommodious urinary problems. Urine and semen must pass through the prostate in order to leave the body.

Regular health checks can possibly detect the cancer at an early, more treatable stage. Some of the related symptoms are frequent urination, particularly at night; erectile dysfunction; painful ejaculation; frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

These are just some of the symptoms; several men, who have been diagnosed, acknowledged that they didn’t have any symptoms at all. Consequently, getting a test is imperative, not only can the exam save your life; it will save your sex life as well.

Why do so many men have reservations about rectal exams?