A fan palm tree with razor-sharp branches that can be found all over Florida, the saw palmetto is filled with olive-sized berries. The extract of these berries is believed to be a sexual stimulant and a remedy for enlarged prostate glands.

It is the latter application that is particularly interesting. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a common enlargement of the prostate gland. Very prevalent in men past forty, its exact cause is not fully known. While it is not cancerous—nor does it lead to the disease—a man can have both BPH and prostate cancer simultaneously. And although BPH doesn’t affect sexual performance directly, its urinary symptoms can get in the way of sexual activity.

Situated in the front of the rectum and just below the bladder, the prostate completely surrounds the top portion of the urethra, the channel through which both urine and semen pass from the body. A reproductive organ the size of a walnut, the prostate’s major function is to produce part of the fluid portion of semen. During orgasm, muscles in the prostate quickly contract, pushing the prostate fluid through special ducts into the urethra, where it mixes with other fluids that help carry sperm out through the tip of the penis.

While the prostate itself plays no role in the urinary system, disorders of the organ often cause urinary problems due to the gland’s close proximity to the bladder and urethra. Enlargement of the prostate, due either to BPH or cancer, will often constrict the urethra where it runs through the prostate, contributing to bladder-relieving problems.

All symptoms of BPH are linked to urination. As the prostate enlarges, the flow of urine through the urethra is obstructed. Frequent urination, a difficulty starting the action, a weak stream, and dribbling at the end of urination are typical symptoms. Until recently, surgery was the only option. It has now fallen out of favor for several reasons. For one, it often failed to provide relief. For another, it often led to chronic incontinence. Cases of TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) surgery could lead to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. On top of all that, it is estimated that as many as 15 percent of men go on to develop ED following surgery.

Now, however, there are prescription drugs that will effectively shrink the prostate or relax the muscle tissue that constricts the urethra. Unfortunately, the drugs designed to control BPH often bring about ED or a loss of libido in many men. Finasteride (Proscar) is one such medication.

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