U.S. Markets for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Prostate Disease/Disorder Management Products

The prostate gland, the largest accessory gland of the male reproductive system, is located immediately beneath the bladder and anterior to the rectum and encircles the bladder neck and upper segment of the urethra. The prostate is partly glandular and partly fibromuscular, and comprises a median lobe and two lateral lobes that often are fused and are referred to as the posterior lobe, which produces secretions responsible for keeping the lining of the urethra moist; the median lobe produces seminal secretions. These lobes are enclosed in a fibrous capsule containing smooth muscle fibers in its inner layer.

The prostate stores and secretes 10% to 30% of the volume of seminal fluid that, along with sperm, constitutes semen; the seminal vesicles produce the remaining seminal fluid. The ejaculatory ducts from the seminal vesicles pass through the prostate to enter the urethra, and the prostate aids in the delivery of seminal fluid and sperm during ejaculation. While semen moves through the prostatic portion of the urethra, the prostate contracts rhythmically and secretes a milky, alkaline fluid that helps sperm survive the acidic environment of the female reproductive tract; it also contains substances that help mobilize sperm after ejaculation.

For a variety of reasons, diseases/disorders of the prostate continue to constitute the second most common type of acute and chronic medical conditions (after cardiovascular disease) afflicting the adult male population in the United States (U.S.). The most prevalent prostate disorders covered by this report include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is typically observed in men age 50 and older; cancer, which also typically is diagnosed in men age 50 and older; and prostatitis, which is primarily observed in younger men, but also may occur in older individuals.