Enlarged Prostate (BPH): MedlinePlus [NEW TOPIC PAGE]

Enlarged Prostate (BPH): MedlinePlus



A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

Also called: benign prostatic hyperplasia 

The prostate is a gland in men. It helps make semen, the fluid that contains sperm. The prostate surrounds the tube that carries urine out of the body. As men age, their prostate grows bigger. If it gets too large, it can cause problems. An enlarged prostate is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Most men will get BPH as they get older. Symptoms often start after age 50.

BPH is not cancer, and it does not seem to increase your chance of getting prostate cancer. But the early symptoms are the same. Check with your doctor if you have

• A frequent and urgent need to urinate, especially at night
• Trouble starting a urine stream or making more than a dribble
• A urine stream that is weak, slow, or stops and starts several times
• The feeling that you still have to go, even just after urinating
• Small amounts of blood in your urine

Severe BPH can cause serious problems over time, such as urinary tract infections, and bladder or kidney damage. If it is found early, you are less likely to develop these problems.

Tests for BPH include a digital rectal exam, blood and imaging tests, a urine flow study, and examination with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatments include watchful waiting, medicines, nonsurgical procedures, and surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Cystoscopy
• Digital rectal exam
• Enlarged prostate
• Enlarged prostate - after care
• Enlarged prostate - what to ask your doctor
• Enlarged prostate gland
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Prostate removal
• Prostate resection - minimally invasive
• Prostate resection - minimally invasive - discharge
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Related Topics

• Men's Health
• Prostate Cancer
• Prostate Diseases
• Seniors' Health
• Male Reproductive System

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Enlarged Prostate (BPH)is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Start Here

  • Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

• Overviews

  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)(College of American Pathologists)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or Enlarged Prostate: Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor(Harvard Medical School)
  • Blood in Urine (Hematuria)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • BPH: Diagnosis (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Enlarged Prostate)(Urology Care Foundation)
  • Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Medical Tests for Prostate Problems(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • MRI of the Prostate(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate Ultrasound(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test(National Cancer Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Urinary Retention(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

• Treatment

  • BPH: Medical Management (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia /Enlarged Prostate)(Urology Care Foundation)
  • BPH: Minimally Invasive Management (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Enlarged Prostate)(Urology Care Foundation)
  • BPH: Surgical Management (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Enlarged Prostate)(Urology Care Foundation)
  • Drugs to Treat Enlarged Prostate(Consumers Union of U.S.)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate Surgery - TURP(Patient Education Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Prevention/Screening

  • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
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• Alternative Therapy

  • Saw Palmetto(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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• Tutorials

  • Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate Surgery - TURP(Patient Education Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Videos

  • Enlarged prostate gland - Encyclopedia
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Anatomy/Physiology

  • Urinary Tract and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • What Is Your Prostate?(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Prostatic Hyperplasia(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Multicentre prospective crossover study of the 'prostatic urethral lift' for...
  • Article: Enlarged prostate. Know your treatment options.
  • Article: Re: The effect of increased maximum power output on perioperative...
  • Enlarged Prostate (BPH) -- see more articles
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• Directories

  • Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - PDF
  • Find a Urologist(Urology Care Foundation)
  • Return to top

• Organizations

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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• Patient Handouts

  • Digital rectal exam
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Enlarged prostate - after care
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate removal
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate resection - minimally invasive
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate resection - minimally invasive - discharge
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Simple prostatectomy
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Transurethral resection of the prostate - discharge
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Urinary Retention(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Return to top