Symptoms & Causes of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
What do you know about Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? One thing, is that it is also called prostate gland enlargement, and is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms. These symptoms include blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.
The good news is that there are several effective treatments for prostate gland enlargement, including medications, minimally invasive therapies, and surgery. To choose the best option, Z Urology will consider your symptoms, the size of your prostate, other health conditions you might have and your preferences of treatment.
Here we go over the symptoms and causes of BPH.
Symptoms
The severity of symptoms in people who have prostate gland enlargement varies. Symptoms tend to worsen gradually over time.
The common signs and symptoms of BPH include:
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
- Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- Inability to completely empty the bladder
- Difficulty starting urination
The less common signs and symptoms include:
- Urinary tract infection
- Inability to urinate
- Blood in the urine
The size of the prostate doesn’t necessarily determine the severity of symptoms. Interestingly, some men with only slightly enlarged prostates can have significant symptoms, while other men with very enlarged prostates can have only minor urinary symptoms.
In some men, symptoms eventually stabilize and might even improve over time.
Other Possible Causes of Urinary Symptoms
Conditions that can lead to symptoms similar to those caused by enlarged prostate include:
- Urinary tract infection
- Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis)
- Narrowing of the urethra (urethral stricture)
- Scarring in the bladder neck as a result of previous surgery
- Bladder or kidney stones
- Problems with nerves that control the bladder
- Cancer of the prostate or bladder
When to See a Doctor
If you’re having urinary problems, discuss them with your doctor. Even if you don’t find urinary symptoms bothersome, it’s important to identify or rule out any underlying causes. Untreated, urinary problems might lead to obstruction of the urinary tract.
Causes
The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder. The tube that transports urine from the bladder out of the 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 their life. In many men, this continued growth enlarges the prostate enough to cause urinary symptoms or to significantly block urine flow.
It isn’t entirely clear what causes the prostate to enlarge. However, it might be due to changes in the balance of sex hormones as men grow older. Most men with an enlarged prostate don’t develop these complications.
Having an enlarged prostate is not believed to increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.
If you think you might have Benign prostatic hyperplasia, call one of our offices or book an appointment with Z Urology to discuss. Having a urologist can help in your treatment of BPH. If you think this is an issue, don’t delay. Instead, pick up the phone and call Z Urology, with offices in South Florida. Call today!
We provide state-of-the-art urologic care in the South Florida area with a focus on both male and female urology. Our practice specializes in all urologic procedures, specifically, minimally invasive methods. Our three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.
We at “Z” specialize in bladder issues, erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate issues, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, stone disease, BPH, male infertility, nocturne, Peyronie’s disease, and ureteral reimplantation.
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