Is prostate fluid test painful?

The process of prostate fluid examination is relatively complicated and lengthy. Many people are afraid of this examination. People will feel some pain during the examination, but the pain is not that strong. However, it is best to massage the testicles properly before doing this examination, so that the examination process will become easier and will not be too difficult.

(1) Acid phosphatase content. Acid phosphatase mainly originates from the prostate, and its content is positively correlated with zinc concentration. When suffering from prostate cancer, both levels increase significantly. Therefore, the content of acid phosphatase can be used as an objective indicator for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of prostate cancer.

(2) Zinc ion concentration. The prostate is one of the tissues with the highest zinc content in the body, and the zinc concentration in prostatic fluid is also very high. The prostate can synthesize zinc-containing peptides with antibacterial effects, so the zinc content is related to the bactericidal ability and antibacterial mechanism of prostatic fluid. In chronic prostatitis, the zinc concentration drops from the normal 480 micrograms/ml to about 148 micrograms/ml. When the ejaculatory duct is blocked and azoospermia occurs, the zinc concentration in semen increases significantly. This is because the proportion of prostatic fluid in semen increases significantly.

(3) Acidity and alkalinity. Under normal circumstances, prostatic fluid is slightly acidic, but some laboratories show that it is slightly alkaline, with a pH range of approximately 6.7 to 7.3. The pH of prostatic fluid becomes more alkaline with age. When inflammation occurs, the pH can increase to 7.7 to 8.5.

(4) Citrate concentration. The secretion of citric acid is controlled and regulated by androgens. The citric acid level is positively correlated with the zinc concentration (that is, when one increases, the other also increases proportionally). The normal citric acid concentration is about 19 mg/ml, and it drops to about 6.4 mg/ml in patients with prostatitis.

The method of prostate massage is very simple, and the patient's family can also help. The massage method is introduced as follows: First, the patient should empty his bowels, then take the knee-chest position or side-lying position on the bed, and the operator's right index finger wears a finger cot or milk glove, which can also be replaced by a condom. Apply a small amount of vaseline or paraffin oil on the finger cot. When operating, first massage around the anus a few times to relax the anal muscles, then slowly insert the index finger into the anus, with the fingertip downward, and the chestnut-sized prostate can be touched about 3-4 cm below it, with a shallow groove in the center.

Press the prostate lobes from the outside to the inside 3-4 times, and then press the central groove from top to bottom 3-4 times. The patient will feel the urge to urinate, and milky white liquid will flow out of the urethra. Collect it with a glass sheet and send it for testing. If no liquid flows out, you can collect urine for testing after massage. As long as the urine is cloudy after massage, it means that a small amount of prostate fluid has entered the urethra after massage and was washed out by urine.