The Prostate

Ian W. Toal is a registered nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system, and according to
Dr. Taguchi it “has a very limited use—which ... diminishes as a man
ages.” The gland is responsible for making the bulk of the seminal
fluid during ejaculation, and is essential for sperm survival during
normal impregnation. However, as the author points out, sperm do not
need prostatic fluid to fertilize an egg—sperm extracted directly from
the testis can be used to successfully fertilize eggs in artificial
insemination.

The concern surrounding this gland arises not so much from what it does
but from where it is and how it ages. The prostate sits at the neck of
the bladder and is wrapped around the urethra, the “tube” through
which urine passes from the bladder to outside. As a man ages, the
muscles and cells in the gland enlarge, and very often this swelling
squeezes the urethra, with predictable results—difficulty, or even
inability, to urinate. To add insult to injury, the prostate can also
become infected, or a site for cancer. Fourteen percent of men will
develop prostate cancer, and 20 percent of them will die from it.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men.

An experienced urologist, Dr. Taguchi writes with authority about the
prostate and how to diagnose and treat the diseases that affect it.
Written for the lay person, The Prostate is highly readable and
extremely informative, and the author uses humor and anecdotes to make
the text flow along. The book is logically laid out, contains up-to-date
information, and includes an index and a useful glossary. Recommended
for any man (or family member) who wants to understand prostatic illness
and the treatment options.