Prostate volume, the measure of the size of the prostate gland, is a significant factor in men's health, particularly in the context of conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. In healthy adult men, the average prostate volume is about 20-30 milliliters, roughly the size of a walnut. However, prostate size can vary and tends to increase with age. Enlargement of the prostate, often seen in BPH, can lead to symptoms like urinary frequency, urgency, and difficulty in urination. Prostate volume is typically assessed through medical imaging techniques like ultrasound or MRI and can play a role in diagnosing and managing prostate-related conditions.
Prostate volume
This category covers prostate measurements taken from imaging, currently prostate volume. Volume is measured in milliliters by transrectal ultrasound, MRI or, less precisely, abdominal ultrasound. A typical adult prostate is about 20 to 30 mL, and it tends to grow with age.
Why prostate volume matters:
- An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) can press on the urethra. It can cause urinary frequency, urgency, a weak stream and getting up at night.
- Volume helps doctors choose treatment for BPH and predict how well some medicines will work.
- Volume is used to calculate PSA density (PSA divided by prostate volume). A larger prostate makes more PSA, so density helps tell whether a raised PSA is out of proportion to the gland's size.
How to read the result:
- A large volume on its own is not a sign of cancer, and symptoms do not always match size.
- Measurements differ between methods, so compare results taken the same way over time.
Biomarkers in this category
1 biomarker · optimal ranges shown