Enlarged Prostate

Definition of Enlarged Prostate

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological condition caused by the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland as men get older. As the prostate enlarges, it can squeeze down on the urethra.

In the early stage of prostate enlargement, the bladder muscle becomes thicker and forces urine through the narrowed urethra by contracting more powerfully. As a result, the bladder muscle may become more sensitive, causing a need to urinate more often and more suddenly.

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate

The symptoms associated with BPH are known as lower urinary tract symptoms.  This can cause men to have trouble urinating and leads to symptoms of BPH. The symptoms associated with BPH are known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

The common symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:

  • Difficulty urinating or a weak urinary stream
  • Stopping and starting during urination or significant dribbling after urination
  • Incomplete emptying of the bladder
  • Having to urinate again shortly after urination
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Urgent need to urinate
  • Blood in the urine

Causes of Enlarged Prostate

Risk factors for developing BPH include:

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