Men, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate) Men - Little Gland, Big troubles What is this? How to define BPH ? Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that restricts the flow of urine from the bladder. 1 There are two growth periods in a man’s life when the prostate enlarges. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. At around age 25, the gland begins to grow again. This second growth phase often results, years later, in BPH. 2 In BPH, the prostate becomes enlarged to the point that it presses against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself, so urine remains in the bladder. This “clamping” of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder causes many of the symptoms associated with BPH. 2 While a definitive cause of BPH has not been identified (possible the...