Enlarged prostate: what this means for you

I have an enlarged prostate gland. What does that mean?

The prostate, the male organ that produces semen, is wrapped around the tube that drains urine from your bladder. As men grow older, the prostate can become enlarged (from roughly the size of a walnut to a plum), restricting or blocking the flow of urine. The condition does not morph into cancer or increase the risk of cancer, but it can be painful, bothersome and embarrassing.

The medical term for an enlarged prostate gland is benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It is something most men will have to deal with at some point in life, assuming they live into old age. Complications from BPH include complete or partial blockage of the urethra, urinary tract infections, bladder stones or blood in the urine. Men who are experiencing enlarged prostates are often worried they have prostate cancer, but there are many other more likely causes of having an enlarged prostate gland.

Causes of BPH

What causes an enlarged prostate gland?

The exact cause of BPH, or an enlarged prostate, remains unknown. The likelihood of BPH occurring increases as men grow older. The disorder is very common. A small percentage of men over 40 have it, and more than 90 percent of men older than 80 years old have it. Men who had their testicles removed at a young age (for health reasons) cannot develop an enlarged prostate gland.

There are no known risk factors for BPH, other than having normally functioning testicles.

Do you have prostatitis?

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis is a surprisingly common infection that affects an estimated one in five middle-aged men in the United States. Similar to a bladder infection, prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection within the prostate gland, causing the prostate to become enlarged. Men who have prostatitis may feel pain when urinating, and their urine streams may be weak or difficult to control. Like other enlarged prostate conditions, prostatitis often causes men to feel a strong, persistent urge to urinate, even if they've already voided several times.

Prostatitis is one of many enlarged prostate conditions that can be easily treated with therapy or medication. Antibiotics can be used to kill the bacteria that cause infections, and anti-inflammatory medication can bring down the swelling that puts pressure on the bladder, causing the persistent urge to urinate. Prostate massage can also be used to help flush the prostate of fluids that may be contributing to prolonged symptoms. In more severe cases, the urethra may be widened to ease the flow of urine, or other surgical procedures may be performed to further treat or diagnose the problem.