Prostatic calculi are tiny stone-like grains that form inside the prostate. Most men never feel them, but when they irritate the gland the clues are steady and specific.

The first hint is a deep, dull ache between the legs. It feels like a small rock pressing behind the pubic bone and flares after long sitting or ejaculation.

Burning shows up next. It stings at the start of the stream and can linger for a few seconds after you finish.

Urgency and frequency team up. You dash every hour, yet only a weak, stop-start trickle comes out.

Semen can change. Drops of blood appear at the end, or the fluid looks slightly cloudy with tiny gritty flecks.

Some men notice a brief throb during a bowel movement, as the stones are pushed against the gland.

If infection sets in, fever, chills, and a musty smell in the urine join the mix—an alarm that the stones have become a germ hotel.