BPH And Your Prostate

BPH is short for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. It is an enlargement of the prostate and effects the majority of men at some stage in their life. Most men will have experienced this condition by the time they are 80. About half will have experienced it at the age of 50.

What does the prostate do?

The primary purpose the prostate serves in the male body is to make fluid for semen. Physically it is situated just below your bladder. It surrounds the urethra which is a tube that carries semen and urine out of the body through the penis.

When does the prostate grow?

The prostate grows at two stages in your life -

Developmental childhood is the first phase. By the mid teens, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. It stays that size for most of your early and mid-adult life when you are most sexually active.. Then, usually after the age of 40, the prostate starts to grow again.

The prostate keeps growing through most of a man’s life, but the size of the prostate does not usually cause problems until later in life. As the prostate enlarges, it’s harder for the bladder to empty. The prostate may block or impede the flow of urine or cause other symptoms. This can have the effect of making you want to urinate more often.

Who can diagnose BPH?

As with any medical condition, only your doctor can diagnose BPH. The good news is that there are treatment options available to you to help you manage the symptoms listed below. Some of the suggestions your doctor may make maybe medicinal through to lifestyle changes depending on your personal conditions that you present.

It is possible to have BPH and not present with any symptoms, but this is rare. Some of the more common symptoms are -

A weak urine stream that can start and stop, or only urinating a little bit

•          Trouble starting to urinate
•          Needing to urinate more often and/or get out of bed a few times at night to urinate
•          Feeling like you still have to urinate after finishing
•         Leaking or dribbling urine after going to the bathroom
•          Having a strong, sudden urge to urinate

As the prostate continues to grow, the symptoms of BPH can get worse with time. They can also be signs of more serious problems. Don’t ignore them. See your doctor. Men over age 50 should have prostate exams every year, whether they have symptoms or not.