If you wake up several times during the night to go to the bathroom, or you notice that your urine flow has become weaker than it used to be, you are not alone — benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common health conditions in men over fifty.
And here is the important news: this condition is not cancer, and in most cases it is not dangerous — but it does deserve a medical evaluation before it affects your quality of life or the health of your bladder and kidneys.
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
The prostate is a small gland that sits below the bladder in men and surrounds the first part of the urethra. With age, this gland gradually enlarges and may press on the urethra, causing difficulty urinating.
The word "benign" here clearly distinguishes this condition from prostate cancer — two completely different conditions.
Symptoms of prostate enlargement
Storage symptoms (a full bladder)
- Waking from sleep once or more to urinate (nocturia)
- A sudden urge to urinate that is hard to postpone
- Unusually frequent urination during the day
Voiding symptoms (difficulty urinating)
- Weak or interrupted urine flow
- Needing to strain, or a delay at the start of urination
- A feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely
When should you see a doctor?
When the symptoms start to affect your sleep or your daily activity, it is time for an evaluation. There is no need to wait until the symptoms get worse — an early diagnosis allows broader and easier treatment options.
Diagnosing prostate enlargement
The doctor begins with
- Reviewing the symptoms using the standardized IPSS score
- Urine tests and a kidney-function analysis
- A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) measurement to rule out cancer
- Measuring the urine flow rate (uroflowmetry)
- Measuring the post-void bladder volume with ultrasound
- Cystoscopy when a precise assessment is needed
Treatment
Medical treatment
- Alpha-blockers (such as Tamsulosin): relax the muscles of the gland and the urethra and relieve symptoms quickly
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (such as Finasteride): gradually shrink the gland over months
- Combination therapy when needed
Surgical treatment (when medications fail or the condition worsens)
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): the gold standard for moderate to large cases
- Laser techniques: a lower-bleeding alternative with excellent results
- Minimally invasive techniques (such as UroLift): without removing tissue
What if you ignore the symptoms?
In some untreated cases, complications can develop, such as
- Acute urinary retention (a complete inability to urinate — a medical emergency)
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Long-term effects on bladder and kidney function
At Town Hospital, the examination is confidential and respectful — the urology team welcomes you to assess your condition and find the right solution.
To book and consult: contact us via WhatsApp or call the hotline 15276.
Frequently asked questions
Does prostate enlargement turn into cancer?
No — benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer are two entirely separate conditions. Having BPH does not raise the risk of cancer, but both conditions can coexist in older men — which is why a routine examination includes a comprehensive evaluation to rule out cancer.
At what age does prostate enlargement start?
Rarely before 40, but it begins to become common after 50 and increases with age. About half of men in their fifties have some degree of enlargement.
Is there a dietary treatment for prostate enlargement?
There is no proven dietary treatment to shrink the enlargement, but cutting back on caffeine and alcohol and managing the amount of fluid you drink in the evening may relieve some symptoms. Medical or surgical treatment is the main option for moderate to severe cases.
Does prostate surgery affect sexual function?
TURP can cause retrograde ejaculation in a proportion of patients. Modern techniques such as UroLift reduce this effect. The doctor discusses these aspects in detail before any intervention.
Is complete urinary retention an emergency?
Yes — a complete inability to urinate together with severe pain requires going immediately to the nearest emergency department to empty the bladder with a catheter.
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