What Happens
The prostate gland grows as men age, with the fastest growth occurring at middle age. By age 50, you have a 50% chance of having an enlarged prostate. By age 80, you have an 80% to 90% chance of having an enlarged prostate.1
As the prostate enlarges, the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body) becomes narrowed or partially blocked, causing the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). By age 55, you have a 25% chance of having symptoms. By age 75, 50% of men complain of a decrease in the force of their urine streams.3
In rare cases severe obstruction of the urine flow develops that may lead to complications, including complete or partial blockage of the urethra, urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, or visible blood in the urine.
Every man's experience with BPH is different. Symptoms may be stable, may come and go, or may become more bothersome over time. Some men find the symptoms to be mild and do not require treatment with medications. Other men find the symptoms bothersome and choose treatment with medication or, less commonly, surgery.
BPH does not cause prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer may cause symptoms similar to those of BPH. It is important to have your symptoms checked by a health professional to be certain they are not caused by prostate cancer.
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