Mercy Network
Mercy Family Clinic
For Him: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition that affects
the prostate gland in men. The prostate is a gland found between the
bladder (where urine is stored) and the urethra (the tube urine passes
through). As men age, the prostate gland slowly grows bigger. As the
prostate gets bigger, it may press on the urethra and cause the flow
of urine to be slower and less forceful. The word “benign” means
the enlargement is not cause by cancer or infection. The word “hyperplasia” means
enlarged.
Symptoms usually start gradually and may include:
- Need to get up more often at night to urinate.
- Need to empty the bladder often during the day.
- Difficulty starting the urine flow or dribbling after urination ends.
- Size and strength of urine stream may decrease.
Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, so he or she can decide which tests to use to find the possible cause.
Once you see your doctor, if BPH is diagnosed, treatment may include:
- Surgery is the most effective treatment and is used in men with very strong symptoms.
- Drug treatments are available but do not help all patients.
- Mild symptoms may get better on their own without treatment.