The prostate gland is found in males. It is located at the top of the urethra just below the urinary bladder. This gland is a part of the male reproductive system. It secretes an alkaline fluid that makes the semen mixture alkaline in nature. This counteracts the acidic nature of the female reproductive tract. Because of this neutralization, sperm are capable of surviving as they make their way towards an egg for fertilization. Another function of the prostate gland is related to its soft muscle tissue. The muscle tissue provides an extra boost in the pressure of semen ejaculation which is necessary for the semen to be deposited further inside the female reproductive tract than would otherwise be possible.The prostate gland is one of the areas of the body which may be affected by cancer. Cancer is a progressive condition that gradually destroys the healthy cells of the organ within or on which it is growing. Cancer also spreads across the body and is fatal if not treated or if the treatment is delayed too much.A prostate biopsy would be conducted to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer cells in the area under testing.
However, because the prostate is such a small organ, the biopsy procedure is more complicated and is used to collect multiple samples for analysis. There are some prostate biopsy guidelines that need to be followed before and during the procedure.The doctor should investigate the patient's medical history and discontinue the use of any medication that may be anticoagulant in nature.
This is necessary before inserting any needle as the wound will not heal properly if such medications are being consumed. The next prostate biopsy guideline is related to the site where the needle will be inserted. Most procedures use the rectum for access. There are two things that need to be taken care of in this situation. The rectum and the surround area should be anesthetized so that the pain associated with the procedure is reduced or eliminated. Before this is done, an enema should be prescribed. This is done to clear the bowels of any fecal matter. After this, the test can be conducted. A prostate biopsy must be conducted with the help of an ultrasound imaging machine which is used to guide the needle. This is done because of the proximity of other organs. Finally, the patient should be treated with antibiotics to prevent any infection from developing near the needle insertion points.