Can prostate stones also grow? What should I do?

Author: Ouyang Bin Guangzhou First People's Hospital

Reviewer: Liu Guihua, Chief Physician, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

As they age, frequent urination, urgency and inability to urinate begin to become a problem that troubles many middle-aged and elderly men.

Why do middle-aged and older men have these problems? It is likely caused by prostate calcification.

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1. What is prostate calcification?

Prostatic calcification, commonly known as prostatic stones, is mostly scattered between the plane of the prostatic capsule and the prostatic tissue. It is neither tumor tissue nor a manifestation of prostatic tumor.

Prostate calcification is different from kidney stones and ureteral stones. It will not cause urinary tract obstruction and is almost harmless to the human body.

Prostatitis is a very common disease among men. According to a survey, 80% to 90% of men have suffered from prostatitis in their lifetime, with young and middle-aged men being the most susceptible group. In old age, the disease manifests as prostate calcification.

Prostatitis is not terrible. Most of them are sterile and have no symptoms. Some men don't even know they have prostatitis, so there is no need for treatment. Some studies have shown that aseptic prostatitis without any symptoms does not need treatment. Prostate calcification is the final manifestation of prostatitis, and prostate calcification without any symptoms does not need treatment.

So can prostate calcification lead to cancer? The answer is no. Therefore, patients do not need to worry too much.

2. If you don’t pay attention to these things, prostate calcification is likely to occur

The cause of prostate calcification is relatively complex and is not yet clear. Some studies have shown that the cause is the blockage of the prostate gland duct, which causes the prostate fluid to be unable to be discharged in time, and over time it is deposited to form calcification. Some studies also believe that prostate calcification is one of the manifestations of prostatitis, indicating that the body has suffered from prostatitis before.

Prostate calcification is closely related to some diseases, personal living habits and hygiene. In summary, it mainly includes the following pathological and physiological reasons.

1. Prostatitis is not completely cured, causing prostate calcification

Most prostate calcifications are caused by prostatitis. Many men suffer from chronic prostatitis for various reasons. If it is not cured, prostate fluid will easily form stones. Over time, it will be deposited in the prostate and aggregate to form calcified spots.

2. Urinary problems may lead to prostate calcification

For example, holding urine can cause congestion and edema of the prostate and bladder neck, leading to acute obstructive urination, which can easily cause acute urinary retention, and over time, it can lead to prostate calcification.

3. Effect of sexual life on prostate calcification

When men have sexual intercourse, the secretion of prostatic fluid increases significantly under sexual stimulation. If it cannot be discharged normally and smoothly, it will accumulate in the prostate ducts over time and cause prostate calcification.

4. Long-term sitting may lead to prostate calcification

Some prostate calcification is caused by long-term sitting, such as male programmers, taxi drivers, etc. Because of the nature of their work, they have to sit for a long time, which will cause pelvic congestion, and over time it is easy to cause chronic prostatitis. If not treated in time, uncured prostatitis may lead to prostate calcification.

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Treatment of prostate calcification

For prostate calcification, targeted treatment should be carried out according to the cause of the disease. Because prostatitis is considered to be one of the main "culprits" of prostate calcification, it is possible to start with the treatment of prostatitis.

The main treatment for prostatitis is to drain the prostate, promote blood circulation, empty the gland, and maintain smooth urination.

Antibiotic treatment : For bacterial prostatitis, antibiotics can directly eliminate inflammation with good results. However, due to prostate calcification, the drug cannot reach the prostate, so it is difficult to achieve a better treatment effect.

Other drug treatments : including tamsulosin, doxazosin, terazosin, tolterodine and solifenacin for urination symptoms; some pollen preparations, plant extracts, etc. (with anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and promotion of local smooth muscle relaxation effects); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.

Physical therapy : It can promote blood circulation, accelerate metabolism, and eliminate prostate edema and congested tissue. Patients can choose to sit bath and massage. Sitting bath can promote blood circulation, help eliminate inflammation, remove secretions, and keep the urethra smooth. As for massage, it is enough to do it once a week.

In addition, because urethral obstruction is one of the causes of prostate calcification, patients should pay attention to their diet, maintain smooth urination, try to avoid eating spicy and irritating foods, and eat less fried foods. They should eat more light and easily digestible foods, and eat more fruits and vegetables. At the same time, they should drink plenty of water, which can flush the urethra and keep it unobstructed.

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To sum up, if men pay attention to their diet, strengthen exercise, maintain good living habits, and seek timely treatment when the disease is discovered, they can effectively reduce the occurrence of prostate calcification.