What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

To understand the name “benign prostatic hyperplasia,” let's look at the words one at a time.

• “Benign” means that the growth is not caused by cancer.
• “Prostatic” means of the prostate.
• “Hyperplasia” means an abnormal growth of cells in an organ.

Together, these words mean that noncancerous cells of the prostate divide to make more cells, resulting in a slow enlargement of the prostate. The condition is also sometimes called “benign prostatic hypertrophy,” with “hypertrophy” meaning “enlargement.” Simply put, BPH is a noncancerous growth or enlargement of the prostate  that makes it difficult to urinate. 

The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ located near the urinary bladder and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder). The urethra runs through the middle of the prostate, like a straw stuck through the middle of a thick doughnut. 

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The prostate does not have anything to do with urinating, but instead supports reproduction. The gland produces fluid that is part of semen. Because it surrounds the urethra, any enlargement of the prostate may squeeze the urethra and constrict the flow of urine. 

For men, the slow growth or enlargement of the prostate is a natural part of aging. The slow growth of the prostate usually takes place from the time a man is in his mid-20s and usually goes unnoticed until much later in life. If you're a man in your 50s, there's about a one in three chance that you have an enlarged prostate, a condition known as BPH. If you're over the age of 60, there's more than a 50 percent chance that you will have BPH.  

The good news is that BPH is a highly treatable disease. Not only is it not cancerous, but it does not lead to cancer. However, it is possible to have both BPH and prostate cancer. BPH affects about 14 million men in the United States. The daily problems that a man can have with urinating due to BPH are called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). 

What are the signs and symptoms of LUTS? 

At first, because the flow of urine is partially blocked, symptoms may include: 

• Poor stream (weak flow of urine and the bladder doesn’t empty quickly) 
• Hesitancy (it takes time before the flow of urine can start) 
• Dribbling (a few drops of urine leak out and stain clothes after you have finished) 
• Poor emptying (it doesn’t feel like you’ve emptied your bladder after you’ve tried to do so) 
• Straining (you feel that you have to push and strain to completely empty your bladder) 

Unfortunately, the more work put into pushing the urine through an increasingly narrowed urethra, the more problems occur. The bladder wall thickens and becomes more irritable and no longer stores larger amounts of urine easily. Symptoms that result may include: 

• Frequency (needing to urinate too often) 
• Nocturia (needing to get up at night to urinate) 
• Urgency (needing to urinate very quickly after feeling the urge) 

Over time, continued prostate enlargement may lead to more serious problems, such as urinary incontinence (not being able to control urination), urinary infections, bladder stones, acute urinary retention (the sudden inability to urinate despite a full bladder), or kidney failure. Medical and surgical treatments are available to make LUTS less troublesome and prevent the more serious urinary problems in men with BPH. 

If you're having symptoms, your doctor can advise you whether you are at risk of developing more serious problems without treatment or whether you can use self-help techniques to make life easier. 

Again, BPH is not cancer. However, BPH and prostate cancer can coexist in the same person, and prostate cancer can develop after BPH is diagnosed. This is another reason why you should see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms described above. Keep getting regular checkups, even if you don’t want medical or surgical treatment for BPH at the moment.