Definition

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Alternative Names

Enlarged Prostate

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?

The prostate forms part of the male reproductive system and helps produce semen. It’s located at the base of the male bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the canal which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, and produces fluid that transports sperm during ejaculation.

The prostate grows to a normal size in teenage years, and then begins to grow again around the age of 50. Stress and diet are contributing to an increased presence of enlarged prostate in younger men, although the exact cause of BPH is unknown.

With age and time, the prostate naturally enlarges, which can cause pressure on the urethra and interfere with the normal flow of urine. By age 60, half of all men have an enlarged prostate. By age 80, about 80 percent of all men have an enlarged prostate. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects more than 26 million men each year in the United States.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, urinary symptoms, and how bothersome it is to the patient. If a patient has symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, it does not necessarily mean that he has prostate cancer. Only the patient’s urologist can determine if he has benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. 

12/29/2008