Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) FAQs

What Is BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)?

BPH (also referred to as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and Benign Enlargement of the Prostate) is a progressive, non-cancerous (benign) enlargement of the prostate gland. Although enlargement of the prostate gland is a natural process that occurs in all normal men, it can sometimes be excessive and cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

What Is The Prostate Gland And What Does It Do?

The prostate is shaped like a walnut and is usually about 4cm x 3cm, located below the bladder and surrounding the urethra. It produces a milky liquid called seminal fluid, which together with other secretions and sperm makes up semen. For more information about the prostate, please see our prostate information page.

Who Does BPH Affect And How Common Is It?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia affects 1 in 4 men over the age of 40 and is a common condition amongst men over this age. BPH cannot affect women, since they do not have a prostate gland.

What Are The Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Symptoms of BPH are called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and are classified as either obstructive or irritative. BPH causes obstructive symptoms when the prostate presses on the urethra (the tube that carries urine), meaning it narrows and does not allow urine to pass through as easily. Obstructive symptoms would include:

• Incomplete emptying of the bladder
• Straining to go
• Intermittency (stopping and starting)

Irritative symptoms are caused, in a way, by the initial obstructive symptoms. When you have obstructive symptoms, you have to strain to go to the toilet, eventually causing the muscle wall of the bladder to thicken due to its extra work load. The result of this is that the bladder is not as elastic and therefore, cannot hold as much urine. This causes you to need to go more often and is the reason that you cannot hold it in when you need to go. Therefore, typical irritative symptoms include:

• Increased frequency
• Increased urgency
• Nocturia

How Will BPH Affect My Quality Of Life?

BPH is a progressive condition. It starts as a mere inconvenience but if left untreated, it can get worse and can become debilitating. If you are unable to completely empty your bladder, this can result in stasis of bacteria in the bladder residue and an increased risk of UTI (urinary tract infection). Urinary retention is another form of progression.

What Can I Do To Try And Alleviate The Symptoms Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

There are certain lifestyle changes you can make to help alleviate mild to moderate symptoms of BPH. These include:

• Avoid drinking large amounts of liquid, although it is still important to keep hydrated.
• Avoid drinks altogether before bedtime.
• Reduce intake of drinks containing caffeine as caffeine can stimulate the bladder.
• Speak to the pharmacist about any medicines that are being taken - some can cause urine retention and make LUTS worse.
• Reduce alcohol consumption as this can stimulate the bladder.