Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)



Unlike the outward spread of prostate cancer, BPH grow inward, causing the prostate to be enlarged. Not to be confused with prostate cancer, BPH is quite harmless. However, it happen to a large majority of men, especially older men. Statistic show that 70% of men over 70 will be likely to experience BPH.

Patient usually seek treatment for BPH due to urinary difficulties since the enlarged prostate will suffocate the urethra and interfering with urine flow. BPH do not increase a person's chance of developing prostate cancer, as these two are different deseases that affect different part of the prostate.

Why BPH happens is not yet clear to scientist. Interestingly, an enlarged prostate does not happen due to increase number of prostate cells, but is attributed to increased lifespan of prostate cells. These cells have unusual lifespan and their size increased to larger than usual, resulting in BPH.

Symptoms of BPH includes hesitancy in urination, needing to urinate frequently, increase urgency to urinate that can lead to leakage, feeling of fullness in the bladder, irregular stream of urine and urinary tract infection.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose BPH through uroflowmetry, ultrasound, urodynamic studies, cystoscopy and residual urine measurement, among others. Treatments can be administered in medication form or surgery. Some cases require watchful waiting approach to further monitor the condition and development of BPH.