Symptoms And Causes Of Enlarged Prostate

What is an enlarged prostate and enlarged prostate symptoms? It is also called BPH (Benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia) .The prostate is the small reproductive gland in a male that produces the ejaculation fluid that carries sperm. The prostate surrounds the tube which urine passes through, the urethra. An enlarged prostate is not uncommon as a man ages, but it can be uncomfortable and irritating. As the gland becomes larger, it presses on the urethra, which causes urination and bladder issues. Luckily, BPH is not cancer and does not increase the risk for cancer.

What causes BPH? The answer to that question is still unknown. It is thought that aging and factors related to the testicles are linked to the growth of the gland. Similarly, if the testicles were removed earlier in life, the instances of BPH are rare. Similarly, if they are removed after BPH develops, the prostate actually will shrink again.

What are enlarged prostate symptoms? First note that less than half of those with BPH have symptoms. Usual signs of BPH include a weak urine stream that may have delay in starting, dribbling after urination, having to strain to urinate, a sudden need to urinate, inability to completely empty the bladder, frequent urge to urinate during the night, bladder incontinence, painful or bloody urination.

These symptoms do not always mean BPH so it's important to go to the doctor, who will take a complete medical history. The doctor also will perform a rectal exam to manually feel the prostate gland. Other tests that may also be performed include testing the urine flow rate, testing to see how empty your bladder is after urination, testing the pressure in the bladder as you urinate, doing x-rays to visually look for blockage, checking for infection, screening for cancer. They may also ask you to complete a form rating the severity of your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. What treatment is there for enlarged prostate symptoms? That answer will be based on how severe your symptoms are. You may be able to change your lifestyle and just wait it out. Other options include medication and surgery.

Men who are over the age of 60 are more likely to have enlarged prostate symptoms, but it can start happening as early as in the 40's. Keep in mind, however, that many with an enlarged prostate have none to only mild symptoms. Using the self-care steps that a doctor will recommend is often good enough to alleviate the symptoms and make you feel better. More drastic treatments are needed only if the symptoms are so uncomfortable that they interfere with your daily life. If you have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, you should have a yearly physical exam to keep track of the progression of your symptoms. If they get worse, changes in treatment may become necessary.

Privacy Policy