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 Dr Brantley Thrasher, chairman of the department of urology at the University of Kansas.

TAKE ACTION
See your urologist, who will likely prescribe a round of anti-inflammatories or antibiotics. If it lingers, try adding foods containing quercetin to your diet. These include apples, grapes, onions, cabbage, tea, nuts and berries. In a UCLA study, 67 per cent 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.

THE ENEMY

Benign prostatic 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 GP 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 GP will use to identify risk. Pair that with a digital rectal exam.

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 Lipshultz. As for prevention, Harvard scientists found that men who ejaculate 21 or more times a month are 33 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who fire 4-7 times.

Buy Blu Save A Bro

Look out for the Movember specially marked Blu-ray Discs this November.
For more information about how you can get involved, donate and celebrate, check out the official website: movember.com.au