The prostate gland is only found in males. It is a walnut sized gland just underneath the bladder. The urethra, the tube taking urine from the bladder out of the pelvis through the penis, passes through the prostate gland as soon as it leaves the bladder.

In the prostate gland, prostatic fluid is made and is added to the sperm that is made in the testicles, to make semen. During sexual intercourse, the semen is ejaculated through the penis from along the urethra. During this process, the prostate does not contract - the force of the ejaculation being from the seminal vesicles.

The prostate gland is sensitive to the male hormone testosterone. As life goes on, the prostate starts getting larger. Also, like many glands, it is also prone to developing malignancy - similar to the breast in a female.

The prostate can cause two major problems. If it swells up too much, it can restrict the flow of urine through the urethra causing urine retention and poor flow when trying to urinate. The second problem is the development of prostatic cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the largest cancer killers in males. Like many cancers, it is curable if caught early and treated effectively.

Prostate surgeons are originally urologists who decide to specialise in diseases and conditions of the prostate gland. Nowadays, they are often also called andrologists.