Your digestive system gets rid of your body’s waste through your bowel movements. When constipation strikes, this waste gets backed up inside your bowel, producing and multiplying toxins, according to A. Vogel U.K. These toxins can seep into your nearby prostate, causing possible inflammation. Additionally, a full bowel can press against your prostate, which subsequently compresses your urethra.
Constipation can also influence your serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels that are used to screen for prostate cancer. A 2012 study in the International Journal of Urology compared PSA values of constipated men with a control group. The constipated men had a one-point higher PSA level than the non-constipated group. Once their constipation was treated, their PSA levels were reduced. The researchers suggested that men address their constipation if their PSA levels are borderline high or between 2 to 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Although it is rare, you could experience constipation if prostate cancer spreads to your bowel, according to Prostate Cancer UK. Constipation might also be a side effect of chemotherapy if you’re being treated for prostate cancer.