Only men have a prostate. A part of the male reproductive system, the
prostate is located just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra (the
tube that carries urine from the bladder and semen through the penis
and out of the body). The prostate’s main job is to help create semen
by generating ejaculatory fluid. Semen is the fluid that helps protect
and energize the sperm when a man ejaculates. The seminal vesicles are
located next to the prostate. They also add fluid to semen. The
prostate gland is in front of the rectum. The prostate gland may be a
source of health problems in men. The most common problems are enlarged
prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH), an inflammatory
disease (prostatitis) and prostate cancer.
