Patient guide
Prostate problem symptoms in men: what is BPH (enlarged prostate) and when to see a doctor
What is BPH? A plain-English guide to enlarged prostate: what the prostate is, the 7 symptoms doctors ask about, how common it is by age, and the signs that mean you should see a doctor now. With a free symptom score.
BPH at a glance
- Not cancerBPH means the prostate has grown larger
- About 50 in 100 menaged 51 to 60 have it
- 7 questionsgive your symptom score in about 2 minutes
What is the prostate, and what is BPH?
The prostate is a small gland, about the size of a walnut in a young man, that sits just below the bladder. The urine pipe (urethra) passes right through its middle. In a young man the prostate weighs about 20 grams [1].
As men get older, the prostate often grows. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. "Benign" means it is not cancer. As the gland grows, it can squeeze the urine pipe, which makes passing urine harder.
How common is an enlarged prostate?
Very common. A study that combined data from more than 1,000 prostates found BPH in about 8 in 100 men by the age of 40, and in about 50 in 100 men aged 51 to 60 [1]. The prostate that has BPH weighed about 33 grams on average, and only about 4 in 100 men over 70 had one over 100 grams [1]. Many men never need treatment. Others have symptoms that disturb sleep, travel and work.
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
Doctors use a standard seven-question check, called the IPSS, to measure BPH symptoms. These are the seven things it asks about [2]:
- Feeling that your bladder is not completely empty after you pass urine
- Needing to pass urine again less than 2 hours after the last time
- Stopping and starting several times while passing urine
- Finding it hard to hold on once you feel the need to go
- A weak urine stream
- Having to push or strain to start
- Getting up at night to pass urine
Get your score in 2 minutes
You can answer the same questions yourself with our free prostate symptom score below. It shows whether your symptoms are mild, moderate or severe. It is a guide and not a diagnosis, and you can share the result with our team.
When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor if your symptoms bother you, disturb your sleep, or are getting worse. Do not put it off because it is "just age". You also need a PSA blood test and an ultrasound, so that other causes, including cancer, are ruled out.
Get help urgently if you have any of these:
- You cannot pass urine at all
- Blood in your urine
- Fever with burning or shivering when you pass urine
- Severe pain in your lower belly
What treatments are there?
Mild symptoms are often just watched, with simple habits. Tablets are usually the first treatment for moderate symptoms. If tablets do not help enough, or you do not want to take them for life, there are procedures. The usual operations remove prostate tissue through the urine pipe. Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a different option that works without cutting, by reducing the blood supply to the prostate, usually under local anaesthesia. Which one suits you depends on your prostate size, your scans and your health.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the full form of BPH?
- BPH stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. It means a non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland.
- What does an enlarged prostate mean?
- It means the prostate gland has grown bigger than normal, which is common as men get older. It can squeeze the urine pipe and cause urine problems. It is not cancer.
- At what age does the prostate start to enlarge?
- BPH starts early. In one large analysis, about 8 in 100 men had it by 40, and about 50 in 100 men aged 51 to 60 had it [1].
- What are the first signs of an enlarged prostate?
- Often it is getting up at night to pass urine, a weaker stream, or feeling that your bladder is not completely empty [2].
- Where can I get my prostate problem checked in Hyderabad?
- Dr. Nagateja Bonala sees men with enlarged prostate symptoms at Clinic Seven and explains all the options, including prostate artery embolization. Bring your ultrasound, PSA and medicines list.
Check your prostate symptom score
References
- Berry SJ, et al. The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. J Urol. 1984. Read the source
- Barry MJ, et al. The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 1992. Read the source
Want to discuss your options?
Speak with the Clinic Seven team.