"I urinate too frequently
during the day and night!"
Enlargement of the prostate, known as benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH), is one of the most common diseases affecting men as they
age. The enlarged prostate causes blockage, or obstruction, to the flow of
urine leaving the bladder. The symptoms that result from BPH are known as
prostatism, or lower tract voiding symptoms. These symptoms include:
 |
nocturia--waking up from sleep to urinate |
|
frequency--urinating often, at short intervals, during the
day |
|
urgency--having to run to the bathroom because of a sudden
urge to void |
|
hesitancy--having to wait for the urinary stream to get
started |
|
decreased stream--a weak stream, little force behind the
stream |
|
intermittency--stopping and starting and stopping and
starting of the urinary stream |
|
terminal dribbling--prolonged dripping of urine after the
main urinary stream has finished |
|
feeling of incomplete emptying--the sensation that urine is
left behind in the bladder after voiding |
These symptoms are due to the mechanical blockage caused by an
enlarged prostate, but they are also due to the bladder's response to the
blockage.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is an accessory sex gland in the male. Its
function is to secrete fluid which keeps the sperm alive, keeps the sperm
moving, and prevents semen from drying out.
The prostate is about the size of a chestnut. It is
located below the outlet of the bladder and encircles the urethra. Because
of its location, the prostate can interfere with the flow of urine from the
bladder and cause many problems for men, especially as they get older.
How common is BPH?
The diagnosis of BPH is usually made by taking into
consideration a man's voiding complaints, his slow urinary stream, and the size
of his prostate. The diagnosis of BPH is made in up to 70% of men aged 61
to 70 years. In half of these men, the symptoms of prostatism interfere
with an activity of daily living. In one quarter of these men, prostatism
interferes with their lives most or all of the time. Surprisingly, though,
only a few of these men seek medical attention for this problem.
How can I learn more about BPH and voiding problems?
If you would like to learn more about the prostate, how it leads
to difficulty voiding, the evaluation of voiding difficulties, and the various
treatments, click on any of the pictures below.
How does an enlarged prostate
cause difficulty voiding?
Evaluation of voiding problems
Noninvasive treatments
Invasive treatments
