Why would a prostate be enlarged?

The cause of prostate enlargement is unknown, but it's believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older. The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older and this may cause your prostate gland to grow.

nhs.uk - Benign prostate enlargement - NHS

Why do I keep waking up at night to pee?

Nocturia is a condition in which you wake up during the night because you have to urinate. Causes can include high fluid intake, sleep disorders...

Last updated May 5, 2018

How often should a man finish?

It is completely healthy to ejaculate more or less than three times a week! The average ejaculation frequency for men ranges from two to seven...

Last updated Dec 8, 2022

Promotion

Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is the medical term to describe an enlarged prostate, a condition that can affect how you pee (urinate). BPE is common in men aged over 50. It's not a cancer and it's not usually a serious threat to health. Many men worry that having an enlarged prostate means they have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This is not the case. The risk of prostate cancer is no greater for men with an enlarged prostate than it is for men without an enlarged prostate. Symptoms of benign prostate enlargement The prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder. If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through. This can affect how you pee and may cause: difficulty starting to pee

a frequent need to pee

difficulty fully emptying your bladder Credit: Alila Medical Images / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph-51363636.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=9A5F67B1-8902-4AA1-BB74-DAEF427C2E74&p=178046&n=102&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=11&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3Dbar%26st%3D11%26sortby%3D2%26qt%3DCYFPRG%26qt_raw%3DCYFPRG%26qn%3D%26lic%3D3%26edrf%3D0%26mr%3D0%26pr%3D0%26aoa%3D1%26creative%3D%26videos%3D%26nu%3D%26ccc%3D%26bespoke%3D%26apalib%3D%26ag%3D0%26hc%3D0%26et%3D0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3D0%26loc%3D0%26ot%3D0%26imgt%3D0%26dtfr%3D%26dtto%3D%26size%3D0xFF%26blackwhite%3D%26cutout%3D%26archive%3D1%26name%3DAlila%2520Medical%2520Images%26groupid%3D%26pseudoid%3D%7BA883FDE5-7F3D-4472-81F5-B61111916852%7D%26userid%3D%26id%3D%26a%3D%26xstx%3D0%26cbstore%3D0%26resultview%3DsortbyPopular%26lightbox%3D%26gname%3D%26gtype%3D%26apalic%3D%26tbar%3D0%26pc%3D%26simid%3D%26cap%3D1%26customgeoip%3D%26vd%3D0%26cid%3D%26pe%3D%26so%3D%26lb%3D%26pl%3D0%26plno%3D%26fi%3D0%26langcode%3Den%26upl%3D0%26cufr%3D%26cuto%3D%26howler%3D%26cvrem%3D0%26cvtype%3D0%26cvloc%3D0%26cl%3D0%26upfr%3D%26upto%3D%26primcat%3D%26seccat%3D%26cvcategory%3D*%26restriction%3D%26random%3D%26ispremium%3D1%26flip%3D0%26contributorqt%3D%26plgalleryno%3D%26plpublic%3D0%26viewaspublic%3D0%26isplcurate%3D0%26imageurl%3D%26saveQry%3D%26editorial%3D1%26t%3D0%26edoptin%3D In some men, the symptoms are mild and do not need treatment. In others, they can be very troublesome. Causes of benign prostate enlargement The cause of prostate enlargement is unknown, but it's believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older. The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older and this may cause your prostate gland to grow. Video: prostate enlargement This animation explains the possible causes of prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Diagnosing benign prostate enlargement You might have several different tests to find out if you have an enlarged prostate. A GP may do some of these tests, such as a urine test, but others might need to be done at a hospital. Some tests may be needed to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms to BPE, such as prostate cancer. Find out more about diagnosing benign prostate enlargement Treating benign prostate enlargement Treatment for an enlarged prostate will depend on how severe your symptoms are. If you have mild symptoms, you do not usually need immediate treatment. Your doctor will agree with you if and when you need more check-ups. You'll probably be advised to make lifestyle changes, such as: drinking less alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks

limiting your intake of artificial sweeteners

exercising regularly

drinking less in the evening Medicine to reduce the size of the prostate and relax your bladder may be recommended to treat moderate to severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine. Complications of benign prostate enlargement Benign prostate enlargement can sometimes lead to complications, such as: a urinary tract infection (UTI) acute urinary retention Acute urinary retention (AUR) is the sudden inability to pass any urine. Symptoms of AUR include: suddenly not being able to pee at all

severe lower tummy pain

swelling of the bladder that you can feel with your hands Go immediately to your nearest A&E if you experience the symptoms of AUR.

Do male dogs get mad after being neutered?

Anger. Confusion expresses itself as anger for a big percentage of male dogs. After neutering, they're going through pain as well as having a giant...

Last updated Mar 30, 2020

How much sperm do men need?

Fertility is most likely if the semen discharged in a single ejaculation (ejaculate) contains at least 15 million sperm per milliliter.

Last updated Aug 4, 2022

Promotion

Does arousal increase PSA?

Semen released during sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, which may affect the test results. For the same reason, before having a PSA test men should not have: exercised vigorously in the previous 48 hours.

nhs.uk - Why should I avoid sexual activity before a PSA test? - NHS

You should avoid sexual activity before a PSA test because it may affect the test results.

What are PSA tests?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by a man's prostate gland (a small gland in the pelvis between the penis and bladder). PSA tests are used to measure the level of PSA in a man's blood. A raised level of PSA can be a sign of a prostate condition, such as:

enlarged prostate

infection or inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis)

prostate cancer

Before having a PSA test, men should not have ejaculated during the previous 48 hours. Semen released during sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, which may affect the test results. For the same reason, before having a PSA test men should not have:

Is prostatitis completely curable?

Antibiotics can cure acute bacterial prostatitis. These medications also ease chronic bacterial prostatitis symptoms in approximately 30% to 60% of...

Last updated May 3, 2020