Urologist explains how sexual activity may reduce men’s prostate cancer risk

Waiting for pain before seeing a doctor is one of the most common mistakes men make about prostate health, according to urologist Audrius Rimas.

Rimas, a physician at Antakalnis Polyclinic in Vilnius, said prostate diseases often produce no pain. Feeling well therefore does not necessarily mean that a man is healthy. He urged men to pay attention to changes in urination, including a weaker stream, waking more often at night, difficulty starting urination or trouble holding urine.

The most common prostate conditions include benign enlargement, prostate cancer and chronic prostatitis. Because the prostate lies next to the urinary tract, changes in the gland can affect urination. Untreated enlargement can worsen these problems, alter the bladder wall and eventually damage the kidneys, he said.

Rimas also discussed the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test. It helps assess the prostate and supports cancer diagnosis, but a raised result does not by itself prove that a man has cancer. Inflammation and a larger prostate can also increase PSA levels.

The interview covered testosterone deficiency, male fertility and lifestyle. Rimas said stress, an unbalanced diet and vitamin D deficiency can affect testosterone levels. He also noted that benign prostate enlargement becomes more common with age, affecting about 40% to 50% of men from around age 50.