--you goys starting talking about other things.

The short answer to Mel's questoin about the inevitability of prostate trouble is no, it's not something always found in men as they get older, but, like so many conditions, it's more likely the older one gets.

Most men do experience some enlargement of the prostate, especially after 60. This probably wasn't noticed so many generations back, as far fewer people made it to that age. But for most, the enlargment is benign, and often asymptomatic. The most common symptom by far is a change in urinary habits--going more often, and having a more difficult time getting a strong "stream" that completely empties the bladder to start. This can be embarrassing--especially for men who've been teasing women about the common female tendency to go very often (women tend to have smaller bladders to start with)--but there are treatments.

There are sometimes sexual effects of an enlarged prostate--this can be more distrubing than the need to go to the bathroom often. Often, treatments (such as surgery or certain medications) may have more sexual side effects than the condition itself, and that can make men nervous about the treatments.

Here are a few good summary sites:

www.prostatedisease.org

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pro...027/DSECTION=1