
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP)?
Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the term used to describe a non-malignant overgrowth of the prostate gland. Specifically, proliferation of the epithelial and smooth muscle cells in the prostatic transition zone gives rise to this enlargement.
What does BPH mean in medical terms?
Prostate enlargement (BPH) Resources. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (hy-per-play-see-ah), or BPH, is a non-cancerous enlargement or growth of the prostate gland. It’s the most common prostate disease.
What is BPH and how does it affect men?
"BPH is a fancy way of saying the prostate is getting larger, and we don't want it to." Dr. Toby Kohler, a Mayo Clinic urologist, says the enlarged prostate forces the urethra to narrow, causing a variety of urination problems. And as men age, the symptoms occur more frequently.
What is prostate enlargement/BPH?
Articles On Prostate Enlargement / BPH. It’s a natural part of aging, but at some point, it can lead to a condition called BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Your prostate surrounds part of your urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of your penis. When you have BPH, your prostate is larger than usual,...

What is BHP in the prostate?
Reviewed by Sophia Coveney. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the term used to describe a non-malignant overgrowth of the prostate gland. Specifically, the proliferation of the epithelial and smooth muscle cells in the prostatic transition zone gives rise to this enlargement.
What is the main cause of BPH?
Hormones from the testis may be the main factor. For example, as men age, the amount of active testosterone in the blood declines. Estrogen levels stay the same. BPH may occur when these hormone changes trigger prostate cell growth.
What is male BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia—also called BPH—is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic obstruction. The prostate goes through two main growth periods as a man ages.
What is TURP BHP?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgery used to treat urinary problems that are caused by an enlarged prostate. An instrument called a resectoscope is inserted through the tip of your penis and into the tube that carries urine from your bladder (urethra).
Can BPH be cured?
Although there is no cure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, there are many useful options for treating the problem. Treatments focus on prostate growth, which is the cause of BPH symptoms. Once prostate growth starts, it often continues unless medical therapy is started.
What are the 5 warning signs of prostate enlargement?
What Are the Warning Signs and Symptoms of BPH?weak urine flow;difficulty starting urination;dribbling of urine, especially after urinating;a sense of not fully emptying the bladder;leaking of urine;more frequent urination and a strong and sudden desire to urinate, especially at night; and.blood in the urine.
What is the best treatment for BPH?
The gold standard for the management of BPH is surgical treatment by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, in older adults, medical therapy is preferred to surgical intervention when possible.
What happens if BPH is left untreated?
First, although it has nothing to do with cancer, untreated BPH has the potential to lead to serious complications, ranging from urinary tract infections and stones in the bladder or kidney to urinary retention and kidney damage.
Is BPH painful?
Some symptoms of BPH are not as common, and they could signal that your condition is more complicated or advanced. Those signs include: Burning or pain when you pee. Blood in your urine.
Does BPH require surgery?
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), while not cancer, can causes symptoms such as bladder stones, blood in the urine and an inability to urinate. The excess tissue of an enlarged prostate can be removed in procedures that can be minimally invasive or more extensive.
How can you prevent BPH?
Weight loss, regular physical activity, vegetable consumption, alcohol intake, 5α-reductase inhibitors, avoidance of overweight and reduction of fatty food can reduce the probability of histological and clinical BPH.
Why is BPH worse at night?
Because the prostate is enlarged, additional pressure is put on the urethra – the tube through which urine flows from the bladder and out of the body – and as a result, urine is retained in the bladder. Sufferers may feel the need to urinate more often or more urgently, including at night.
What is benign prostatic hypertrophy?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia—also called BPH—is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic obstruction. The prostate goes through two main growth periods as a man ages.
What is the first thing a health care provider can do to help diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Taking a personal and family medical history is one of the first things a health care provider may do to help diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia. A health care provider may ask a man
What age is most likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Men with the following factors are more likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia: age 40 years and older. family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia. medical conditions such as obesity, heart and circulatory disease, and type 2 diabetes. lack of physical exercise.
When does prostate hyperplasia occur?
The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. The second phase of growth begins around age 25 and continues during most of a man’s life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia often occurs with the second growth phase. As the prostate enlarges, the gland presses against and pinches the urethra.
Do men with benign prostate hyperplasia have lower urinary tract symptoms?
Some men with greatly enlarged prostates have little blockage and few symptoms, while other men who have minimally enlarged prostates have greater blockage and more symptoms. Less than half of all men with benign prostatic hyperplasia have lower urinary tract symptoms. 3.
What is BPH in men?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — also called prostate gland enlargement — is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems. There are several effective treatments ...
Does diabetes increase BPH?
Diabetes and heart disease. Studies show that diabetes, as well as heart disease and use of beta blockers, might increase the risk of BPH. Lifestyle. Obesity increases the risk of BPH, while exercise can lower your risk.
How many men have BPH?
BPH is a progressive condition that usually affects men aged over 40. Estimates suggest that more than half of men aged 60 years or older and up to 90% of those aged between 70 and 80 years have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with BPH. These symptoms have a significant impact on the quality of life in around half of these men.
What causes a BPH?
In more serious cases of BPH, there may be: 1 Overflow incontinence 2 Acute urinary retention 3 Nocturia 4 Congestion of veins in the prostatic urethra due to straining. This can cause the veins to rupture and bleed, giving rise to hematuria. 5 Vasovagal syncope or loss of consciousness if straining affects the autonomic nervous system 6 Straining can also cause dilation of hemorrhoidal veins or hernias. 7 Incomplete voiding can cause stasis and predispose to infection and the formation of stones. 8 Prolonged obstruction can cause a stretching and swelling of the kidneys referred to as hydroonephrosis, which can impair kidney function.
What causes a hematuria?
Nocturia. Congestion of veins in the prostatic urethra due to straining. This can cause the veins to rupture and bleed, giving rise to hematuria. Vasovagal syncope or loss of consciousness if straining affects the autonomic nervous system. Straining can also cause dilation of hemorrhoidal veins or hernias.
Can BPH cause hematuria?
Many men with BPH may experience mild or even no symptoms. However, in symptomatic cases, individuals may experience the following LUTS: Congestion of veins in the prostatic urethra due to straining. This can cause the veins to rupture and bleed, giving rise to hematuria.
What is BPH in a patient?
BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a condition in which the prostate is enlarged. With BPH, there is an overgrowth of prostate tissue which pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine.
What is BPH in a doctor?
What is BPH? Should I Be Screened? BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a condition in which the prostate is enlarged. With BPH, there is an overgrowth of prostate tissue which pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine.
What is the best treatment for BPH?
BPH is treated with alpha blockers (medications that relax the muscles of the urinary sphincter), or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, (medications that shrink the volume of the prostate). Currently approved alpha blockers include: terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatrol), and silodosin (Rapaflo).
Why is BPH so silent?
Because BPH grows inward, it produces annoying, difficult-to-ignore symptoms . An enlarged prostate alone may or may not cause symptoms (the size of the prostate is not indicative of the degree of urinary symptoms).
Does BHP cause prostate cancer?
While BHP is not prostate cancer, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (which shrink the prostate) can reduce a man’s risk over time of developing prostate cancer by about 25%. There are two benefits to this: First, it makes prostate cancer easier to detect, and second, it prevents the treatments down the road that cause side effects.
Is BPH a benign tumor?
Is BPH Prostate Cancer? Remember, the “b” stands for benign. BPH is not prostate cancer, and having BPH doesn’t mean a man is more or less likely to get prostate cancer. Prostate cancer begins in the outer peripheral zone of the prostate, and grows outward, invading surrounding tissue (as opposed to the inward growth of BPH).
What is a BPH?
BPH is an enlarged prostate. The prostate goes through two main growth cycles during a man’s life. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. The second phase of growth starts around age 25 and goes on for most of the rest of a man's life. BPH most often occurs during this second growth phase.
Why is BPH not developed?
This is because BPH does not develop in men whose testicles were removed before puberty.
Where is the prostate located?
The prostate is found below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It goes all the way around a tube called the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. The prostate’s main job is to make fluid for semen. During ejaculation, sperm made in the testicles moves to the urethra.
How often do you need to pee with a BPH?
Needing to urinate often is a common symptom of BPH. This might be every 1 to 2 hours, mainly at night .
What is the best way to prevent BPH?
Your health care provider will look for worse or new issues before suggesting anything else. Diet and exercise are often recommended as a way to prevent or manage your symptoms. Active surveillance is best for men with mild to moderate symptoms. It is also an option for men who are not bothered by the effects of BPH.
Do men produce estrogen?
Throughout their lives, men produce both testosterone, a male hormone, and small amounts of estrogen, a female hormone. As men age, the amount of active testosterone in the blood lowers, leaving a higher share of estrogen.
Is BPH cancerous?
Narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention – being unable to empty the bladder fully – cause many of the problems of BPH. BPH is benign. This means it is not cancer .
How to treat BPH?
Treatment for BPH has long been medications and procedures, such as lasers or an electric loop, which burn the prostate from the inside out. But, now, a relatively new convective water therapy treatment use s steam to make the prostate smaller.
What is a TURP?
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) A lighted scope is inserted into your urethra, and the surgeon removes all but the outer part of the prostate. TURP generally relieves symptoms quickly, and most men have a stronger urine flow soon after the procedure.
When does BPH start?
BPH is more common when you get older, usually starting after 40 years of age and affecting nearly all men at some time in their lives. Some people don’t have any symptoms, even though their prostate has grown larger. BPH usually becomes more of a problem over time, with symptoms getting worse if left untreated.
What is the difference between BPH and LUTS?
However, a common symptom is a change to your urination, because BPH affects the part of the prostate that surrounds the top part of the urethra. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is a common term used to describe a range of urination symptoms.
How to stop BPH?
We don’t know what causes BPH or how to prevent it. But we do know that lifestyle changes can help to stop the symptoms getting worse, and might even help to improve things. You could think about: 1 Reducing or cutting out caffeine and alcohol, which irritate the bladder 2 Avoiding things that make you constipated 3 Reducing your weight 4 Controlling diabetes and blood pressure 5 Quitting smoking 6 Increasing exercise.
Is BPH life threatening?
This can affect the passing of urine in a number of ways. BPH isn’t usually life threatening, but some of its symptoms can have an impact on your life. Although it can be uncomfortable, your doctor should be able to recommend treatments that help.
Can BPH cause prostate disease?
Genetics might play a part – if your father was diagnosed with BPH, you’re more likely to develop prostate disease. Older age and testosterone are both linked with BPH, but might not be the cause. We do know that BPH only happens when testosterone is present.
How to get better with mild BPH?
Some men with mild BPH symptoms find they get better without treatment. If you choose to monitor or observe there are a couple of things you can do to ease things: Make simple changes in your habits. Drinking fewer liquids before bedtime. Drink less caffeine and alcohol generally.
Is Saw Palmetto a one size fits all prostate?
BPH and Saw Palmetto. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when you have an enlarged prostate and you’re trying to decide what to do next. People react in their own way to the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ), a common condition for men as they age. You can talk about your symptoms with your doctor, ...

Overview
Symptoms
- The severity of symptoms in people who have prostate gland enlargement varies, but symptoms tend to gradually worsen over time. Common signs and symptoms of BPH include: 1. Frequent or urgent need to urinate 2. Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia) 3. Difficulty starting urination 4. Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts 5. Dribbling at the end of urinati…
Causes
- The prostate gland is located beneath your bladder. The tube that transports urine from the bladder out of your penis (urethra) passes through the center of the prostate. When the prostate enlarges, it begins to block urine flow. Most men have continued prostate growth throughout life. In many men, this continued growth enlarges the prostate enough to cause urinary symptoms o…
Risk Factors
- Risk factors for prostate gland enlargement include: 1. Aging.Prostate gland enlargement rarely causes signs and symptoms in men younger than age 40. About one-third of men experience moderate to severe symptoms by age 60, and about half do so by age 80. 2. Family history.Having a blood relative, such as a father or a brother, with prostate problems means you're more likely t…
Complications
- Complications of an enlarged prostate can include: 1. Sudden inability to urinate (urinary retention).You might need to have a tube (catheter) inserted into your bladder to drain the urine. Some men with an enlarged prostate need surgery to relieve urinary retention. 2. Urinary tract infections (UTIs).Inability to fully empty the bladder can increase the risk of infection in your urin…
Mayo Clinic Men's Health Center
- For more information on on benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment at Mayo Clinic, visit the Mayo Clinic Men's Health Center.