What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the medical term for an enlarged prostate that is not due to some other cause. Having an enlarged prostate happens to most men as they age. An enlarged prostate is not cancer. It does not raise your cancer risk either.
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
Enlarged prostate symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable. They include:
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Being unable to urinate
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Not urinating completely
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Incontinence (leaking urine or having accidents)
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Dribbling after urinating
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Pain when urinating
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Blood in the urine
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Straining to urinate
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Slow urinating
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Strong urge to urinate
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Weak urine stream
Regular exercise, reducing stress and not drinking alcohol or caffeinated coffee after dinner may help symptoms.
How do you diagnose BPH?
Talk to your primary care doctor if you have symptoms of an enlarged prostate. They may recommend screening tests such as:
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Urine tests to check flow, pressure and other factors
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Urinalysis
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Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
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Cystoscopy to view the inside of the bladder and urethra
How do you treat an enlarged prostate?
Treatment for enlarged prostate often depends on how bad the symptoms are and if they are getting worse over time. Your doctor may want to monitor your symptoms at first and recommend self-care. Treatment also can include medication, laser therapy and surgery.
