BPH | Enlarged Prostate

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) 

Having an enlarged prostate is a very common health condition for men over 50. The doctors at MaineHealth can evaluate for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and can treat symptoms..

What is 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.

Enlarged prostate symptoms

Enlarged prostate symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable. They include:

• Being unable to urinate

• Not urinating completely

• Incontinence (leaking urine or having accidents)

• Dribbling after urinating

• Pain when urinating

• Blood in the urine

• Straining to urinate

• Slow urinating

• Strong urge to urinate

• Weak urine stream

Regular exercise, reducing stress and not drinking alcohol or caffeinated coffee after dinner may help symptoms.

BPH screening and diagnosis

See your doctor if you have symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Screening tests can include:

• Urine tests to check flow, pressure and other factors

• Urinalysis

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test

• Cystoscopy to view the inside of the bladder and urethra

Your doctor also will give you a physical exam and take your medical history.

Enlarged prostate treatment

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 taking medication, surgery, and laser therapy as an alternative to surgery.