the prostate breezes the urethra squeezes the urethra. it ultimately stops the urine flow. i sat with a group of men who have been experiencing some of those symptoms. this was the first time they talked in a group. >> i can't remember the last night i did not have the get up four or five times. i was just saying, wouldn't it be nice to experience in eight-hour uninterrupted sleep? >> i am worried about where the next bathroom is. if i am in a plane and i am in an aisle seat -- i took my son to see "lord of the rings" and i thought it was a two-hour movie. is this the end? [chatter] >> i am very happy my wife is a nurse and worked in a hospital. [laughter] sure, fine. >> i thought it was normal to pee two or three times a night. my doctor said i was not 21 anymore and i wrote it off as that. until finally he said, how many times do you get up a night and i said, 5, 6, 7. >> you got up seven times a night? didn't you find it strange? are we that stupid or that embarrassed over something we should not be embarrassed about? >> i think embarrassed and living in denial. >> we no

the prostate surrounds the urethra. and as it enlarges, it squeezes the urethra, slowing the flow of urine much like you can see in an hour glass. the sand flows through just like the urine flowing through the urethra. and the prostate surrounds it, slowing the flow and ultimately stopping it. and a doctor can help, because a doctor performs an exam we call a digital rectal exam, and he can feel the prostate and say, "hey, your prostate's getting a doesn't occur until the 50's, and the growth of the prostate may begin in the 30's. and unless the symptoms are now debilitating, the doctor may not offer any treatment other than to rule out a serious disease. to wait until your life revolves around the bathroom where you lose your sex life is no life at all. >> and then it's back to the doctor. >> back to the doctor for drug treatment -- prescription medications which may relieve the symptoms, but often the side effects are worse -- decreased libido and even impoe. plus, the prostate can continue to grow. ultimately, there'

the prostate surrounds the urethra and as it enlarges it squeezes the urethra, slowing the flow of urine. it is much like an hourglass. the sand flows like the urine through the urethra. the prostate around it is slowing the flow, and ultimately stopping it. a doctor can help because a doctor performs an exam. he can feel it and say it is getting big. unfortunately that usually does , not occur until the 50's and the growth of the prostate may begin in the 30's. unless the symptoms are now debilitating, the doctor may not offer other treatments. other than to rule out a serious disease. barbara: then it is back to the doctor? dr. may: back to the doctor for drug treatment, prescription medication that may relieve the symptoms but often the side effects are worse. decreased libido and even impotence. plus the prostate can continue , to grow. ultimately there is surgery. , barbara: at least the problems go away, right? may: there are different types of surgeries pretty they each have their own problems and side effects. often they need to be repeated. there is a gold standard. for this we