A large percentage of middle aged and elderly men suffer from Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH ) or benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP). BPH is not a life-threatening ailment as the growth is not cancerous; however, it can cause a great deal of bodily and mental distress.
Symptoms of Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)
Many men suffering from BPH do not experience any symptoms for a long period of time. That’s why this ailment can go unnoticed till it becomes severe. In the initial stages, people may experience mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which sometimes are barely noticeable. The severity of the symptoms is not related to the amount of prostate enlargement. Some men with a great deal of enlargement may have mild symptoms, and some with only slight enlargement may have severe symptoms.
The most common symptoms of BPH may involve problems in urination – that is problems with bladder storage or emptying the bladder.
Symptoms related to bladder storage include:
- Frequent urination
- A sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate
- Nocturia or waking at night to urinate
Symptoms related to emptying bladder include:
- Dysuria or Pain during urination
- Feeling that the bladder is not completely empty
- An urge to urinate again soon after urinating
- Weak flow or decreased strength of the urine stream
- Difficulty starting a urine stream
- Dribbling after urination
Please note that these symptoms are not always related to prostate enlargement and can be caused by other conditions such as prostatitis, urinary tract infections or prostate cancer. Knowledge of these symptoms will help people in getting the right treatment for prostate enlargement at the right time.