Understanding Benign Hypertrophy of Prostate (BPH): Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Benign Hypertrophy of Prostate (BPH)

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Nodular Prostate - Cyst of Prostate - Prostate cyst - Prostatic cyst

General

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called BPH, is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous. As the prostate grows, it can block a tube called the urethra, which is responsible for emptying the urine from the bladder. As a result, the bladder does not empty completely, and urinary retention may occur. The cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia is not well understood; however, it occurs mainly in older men, and it does not increase the risk for prostate cancer.

70 people with Benign Hypertrophy of Prostate (BPH)

Learn from others who are experiencing Benign Hypertrophy of Prostate (BPH).

Signs & symptoms

Common symptoms include: -the inability to completely empty your bladder when urinating -frequent urination in small amounts -difficulty starting the flow of urine, called hesitancy -a slow urine stream In rare cases, an enlarged prostate can cause a complete inability to urinate, also called acute urinary retention. This is a medical emergency and if it occurs, you should seek for medical attention urgently.

Diagnosis

The doctor will take your medical history and perform a *physical exam* inducing a digital rectal exam to assess the size of your prostate. Further tests including *urine tests* and *blood tests* might be needed according to the physical exam findings and your symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment options may include: -*Lifestyle changes*- if your symptoms are mild and manageable, changes like reducing daily fluid intake, lowering alcohol and caffeine consumption, and performing bladder training might be the right way to start treatment. -*Medications*- such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and Alpha-blockers, to try to shrink the prostate and relief symptoms. -*Minimally invasive procedures*- using ultrasound waves or heat to reduce the size of the prostate. -*Surger* that takes out a part of the enlarged prostate gland and brings long-term symptoms relief.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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