Medicine: Male Trouble

For the middle-aged male, the first signs may be all too apparent. In the dead of night, he must stumble to the bathroom, awakened by an overwhelming urge to urinate. Soon afterward, he is again awake, conscious of great pressure. The same thing happens night after night, and urination—as well as any sexual activity—is often accompanied by a painful burning sensation. Alarmed, the man visits his family doctor or urologist, who confirms his worst suspicions. He is suffering from a disorder of the prostate, a small glandular structure that surrounds the urethra (urinary canal) at the base of...