The relationship between age and prostate cancer

The prostate is an important accessory gland in men. Once it becomes diseased, it will endanger the health of the entire male reproductive system and lead to diseases such as seminal vesiculitis, cystitis, male dysfunction and infertility, and even develop into chronic nephritis and uremia. According to domestic clinical data in recent years, the incidence of prostate diseases in young and middle-aged groups is increasing, seriously threatening the physical and mental health and quality of life of young men.

Uncovering the relationship between age and prostate

From birth to the end of life, as men age, the structure, weight and proportion of connective tissue of the prostate, the largest male sex gland, changes with age.

Before the age of 10, the male prostate is very small, generally about 4 grams, and the glandular tissue is not developed. It is mainly composed of muscle tissue and connective tissue, with the proportion of connective tissue generally accounting for about 29.6%. There is no real glandular duct, only a germ;

At around 10 years old, the glandular epithelial cells begin to increase on the basis of the germ, forming glandular ducts, which are generally about 12g, and the proportion of connective tissue is generally about 30.2%;

During puberty, with the development of the testicles, the prostate gland ducts rapidly develop into alveoli, and at the same time the prostate gland also increases. At this time, it generally weighs about 18 grams, and the proportion of connective tissue is generally about 31.2%. The development reaches its peak at around 24 years old.

Around the age of 30, the epithelial cells fold into the alveoli, making the alveolar structure more complicated. It generally weighs about 20g, and the proportion of connective tissue is generally about 36.4%.

At the age of 40, the prostate usually weighs about 23 grams, and connective tissue generally accounts for about 39.7%. From about 45 to 50 years old, the epithelial tissue folded in the alveoli begins to disappear, and the entire prostate begins to degenerate, but the glands around the urethra begin to proliferate, compressing the peripheral area to cause it to atrophy, and eventually forming the so-called "surgical capsule."

Therefore, the structure, weight and connective tissue of the prostate change throughout life. It can be seen that the weight and volume of a normal prostate increase significantly before the age of 30, and then increase slowly after the age of 30, and the connective tissue increases with age. In terms of volume alone, the prostate is very small in childhood, and can more than double in volume during puberty. Between the ages of 20 and 50, the volume of the prostate is relatively stable, and after the age of 50, its volume begins to increase again, which may develop into benign prostatic hyperplasia.