Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, benign prostatic hypertrophy, benign prostate enlargement) is the clinical name for the most common condition causing an enlarged prostate gland. The prostate gland produces the fluid in semen that nourishes sperm. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, benign prostatic hypertrophy, benign prostate enlargement) is not cancerous and does not increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer.

The cause of BPH is not known, but hormonal changes associated with aging may contribute to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The likelihood of developing BPH symptoms increases with age; men in their 50s have about a threefold higher risk for developing benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms than do men in their 40s. However, research suggests that fewer than half of all men with BPH actually exhibit symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

In the early stages of BPH, a man may have difficulty starting to urinate because the enlarged prostate can press on the urethra and block the flow of urine. Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia also include a strong and sudden urge to urinate, and more frequent urination because the bladder doesn't empty completely each time. Men with BPH may also need to urinate more frequently during the night, a condition called nocturia. BPH may lessen the volume and force of urinary flow (reduced urinary stream), causing urine to dribble. Incontinence from benign prostatic hyperplasia occurs when the bladder eventually overflows. When an enlarged prostate causes a man to strain to urinate, small veins in the urethra and bladder may burst, and blood may appear in the urine. Benign prostate enlargement can also cause urinary tract infection and stone formation.

Related Conditions

• Kidney Stones
• Prostatitis
• Urinary Tract Infection
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