Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Robert Sterling Hollabaugh, Jr. M.D., FACS
As men grow older, urinary difficulties can develop related to an enlarged prostate. This condition, called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH, can affects up to half of men over the age of 50 years. Initially the size of a walnut, the prostate gland grows overtime and can obstruct urinary flow. BPH is NOT cancer, but can have an aggravating or bothersome effect on daily living.
As the condition progresses, a variety of symptoms will become evident:
- Frequent, urgent urination
- Problems starting or maintaining the urine stream
- Slow or weak stream
- Frequent nighttime visits to the bathroom
- Dribbling of urine after completion
- Sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder