Protect Your Prostate

The enemy: prostatitis

What is it? Inflammation of your prostate, which in some cases could be the result of a bacterial infection.

Symptoms: A burning sensation when you urinate or ejaculate; fever; more frequent need to pee. "Some also say it feels like sitting on a golf ball," says J. Brantley Thrasher, M.D., chairman, department of urology at the University of Kansas. Watch for these eight other signs you may have a sexual health problem.

Take action: See your urologist, who will likely prescribe a round of anti-inflammatories or antibiotics. If it lingers, try a supplement called quercetin. In a UCLA study, 67 percent of men with chronic prostatitis experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms when they took 500 milligrams of the antioxidant twice a day for a month. Try a brand such as Prosta-Q.

The enemy: Benign prostate hyperplasia

What is it? An enlarged prostate

Symptoms: The swollen gland can press on your urethra, causing a weak stream and frequent urination, which can interrupt sleep.

Take action: Ask your doctor about saw palmetto extract, an over-the-counter herbal supplement. Two studies have found that a daily dose of 320 milligrams is just as effective as the prescription drug Flomax. What's more, saw palmetto is reported to come without the drug's negative side effects—decreased ejaculate volume and sex drive.

The enemy: Prostate cancer

What is it? A disease in which the cells of your sex gland begin to mutate and multiply beyond its borders.

Symptoms: Rising blood levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a measurement your urologist can use to identify risk. Pair that with a digital rectal exam (DRE).

Take action: Early detection is key. "Every year I have a PSA test along with my physical, and compare results with the year before," says Men's Health advisor Larry Lipshultz, M.D. While you're at it, have these five essential health tests that could save your life the next time you visit your doctor. As for prevention, Harvard scientists found that men who ejaculate 21 or more times a month are 33 percent less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who fire four to seven times.