Prostate and urinary health | Men 40 and over
Up at night, a weaker stream, or always rushing to the toilet?
Prostate changes are part of ageing for most men, but they should never be ignored. Get checked by your doctor first. Then George Mulaudzi, Naturopath can help you support your prostate, bladder and sexual health with a natural, practical plan.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland below the bladder that wraps around the urethra, the tube urine passes through. It tends to grow slowly from middle age, and when it presses on the urethra it can change how you pass urine. Many men put up with these changes for years, losing sleep and confidence, when there is a lot that can be done.
Common prostate problems
Benign enlarged prostate (BPH)
A non-cancerous enlargement that becomes more common with every decade after 40. It is the most common cause of urinary symptoms in older men.
Prostatitis
Inflammation or infection of the prostate, which can cause pain in the pelvis, groin or when ejaculating, and urinary symptoms. It can affect younger men too.
Prostate cancer
One of the most common cancers in men. Early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all, which is why screening conversations with your doctor matter.
Symptoms men notice
- Getting up at night to pass urine
- Needing to go more often, or urgently
- A weak or interrupted stream
- Straining or waiting to start
- A feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied
- Dribbling after you finish
Why a doctor checks first
The symptoms of a benign enlarged prostate and of prostate cancer can be identical. A urine test, PSA blood test and examination by your doctor are the only way to tell what is going on. Natural support comes after that, not instead of it.
Get urgent medical help if you:
- Cannot pass urine at all, especially with a painful, swollen lower belly
- See blood in your urine or semen
- Have a fever, chills or burning with urinary symptoms
- Have new back, hip or bone pain, or unexplained weight loss
- Have had a raised PSA result that has not been followed up
Not being able to pass urine is an emergency. Go to your nearest emergency unit.
How we support prostate health
Once your doctor has ruled out serious causes, a naturopathic plan focuses on the things you can change every day. These approaches have reasonable support and can sit comfortably alongside any medication your doctor prescribes.
Fluid and bladder habits
Spreading fluids through the day, easing off in the two hours before bed, and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, which irritate the bladder.
Weight, movement and blood sugar
Higher body weight and poor blood sugar control are linked to worse urinary symptoms. Regular movement helps both. Metabolic health in men.
Diet
A diet rich in vegetables, tomatoes, legumes and healthy fats, and lower in processed meat, supports overall prostate and heart health.
Pelvic floor and bladder training
Simple exercises and timed voiding can improve control and reduce dribbling and urgency.
Herbal remedies, honestly
Herbal options are chosen individually, and we are clear about where evidence is mixed. What the evidence says about herbs.
Sexual health
Prostate problems and treatments can affect erections and ejaculation. We look at both together. Sex and an enlarged prostate.
Our scope, stated plainly
Sandton Men’s Clinic is a naturopathic practice. We do not examine the prostate, run PSA or other blood tests, prescribe medication or treat prostate cancer.
Your doctor or urologist diagnoses and treats prostate conditions. We support you alongside them with lifestyle, nutrition and natural remedies, and we refer you whenever anything needs medical attention. Annual health checks for men.
Urinary symptom check
Think about the last month. Five quick questions; nothing is stored or sent.
1. How often do you get up at night to pass urine?
2. How often is your stream weak or stop-start?
3. How often do you feel your bladder has not fully emptied?
4. How often do you have to rush to the toilet urgently?
5. Have you noticed blood in your urine or semen, pain, fever, or trouble passing urine at all?
Related reading
An overview of your options Erections after a prostate biopsy ›
What to expect Erections after prostate surgery ›
Recovery and support Men’s health after 50 ›
Vitality and sexual function Low testosterone ›
Hormones and ageing Online consultation ›
Video consult from anywhere in SA
Prostate health questions
Should I see a doctor before a naturopath for prostate symptoms?
Yes. Urinary symptoms from a benign enlarged prostate and from prostate cancer can look the same, so your doctor should check you first, usually with a urine test, a PSA blood test and an examination. Once serious causes are ruled out, a naturopathic plan can support you alongside your doctor’s care.
Does saw palmetto work for an enlarged prostate?
The evidence is mixed. A large Cochrane review found that saw palmetto on its own did not improve urinary symptoms more than a placebo for most men. We are honest about this, and we focus on the lifestyle, fluid, diet and weight changes that have better support, using herbal remedies only where they make sense for you.
When should men start thinking about PSA testing?
Talk to your doctor about PSA testing from around age 45 to 50, and earlier, from about 40, if you have a father or brother with prostate cancer or are of African descent, as these men have a higher risk. Your doctor can explain the benefits and limits of the test.
Can prostate problems affect my sex life?
Yes. Urinary symptoms, prostatitis and some prostate treatments can affect erections, ejaculation and libido. These are often treatable or manageable, and we look at sexual health and prostate health together.
Do you offer prostate examinations or PSA tests?
No. Sandton Men’s Clinic is a naturopathic practice and does not do physical prostate examinations or blood tests. Your doctor or a pathology laboratory does these, and George helps you understand the results and build a supporting plan.
Sleep better, worry less
Private consultations in Sandton or by video, open 24/7. Booking does not commit you to any treatment.
Sources
- Lerner LB et al. Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline, 2021 (amended 2023).
- Tacklind J et al. Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; and Franco JVA et al., 2023 update.
- European Association of Urology. Guidelines on Prostate Cancer, 2024 (risk-adapted early detection).
Written and reviewed by George Mulaudzi, Naturopath, Sandton Men’s Clinic, 199 Vanessa Street, Buccleuch, Sandton, Gauteng 2090 | +27 10 205 9208. This page is general information and does not replace a consultation or medical care. Individual results vary, and no outcome can be guaranteed.