The risk for several conditions increases with age for men - they also increase men's chances of getting prostate cancer. Though many of these conditions have no early symptoms, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, it's still useful to know about these conditions should symptoms develop.
Other conditions such as urinary tract infections and chronic abacterial prostatitis, though not life-threatening, can cause discomfort and inconvenience. Being aware of what symptoms to watch for will help you get treatment.