​Condition​

Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE)​

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An enlarged prostate is common as you get older, and while it isn’t always serious, it can cause urinary symptoms and other complications. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help relieve these effects.

Living with an enlarged prostate​

Benign Prostate Enlargement, or BPE, can cause uncomfortable lower urinary tract problems. It is common over the age of 50 and the older you get, the more likely you are to experience BPE. Its causes are not fully understood and there is no known way of preventing BPE. However, it is always a good idea to live a healthy, active lifestyle and eat a balanced diet.

Nobody understands what living with your enlarged prostate is like better than you. Your thoughts, feelings and hopes matter. Your urologist will work with you to find a treatment that suits you now and supports your goals for life after you complete your treatment.​

Understanding more about your condition and the options that are available to you will help you feel confident in making an informed decision about your BPE treatment.​

Have you been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate already?

Common symptoms of BPE​

Needing to pee more often than usual may be the result of the pressure that an enlarged prostate places onto your bladder and urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body.​

Sometimes you may have little to no warning that you need to get to a bathroom, and this could result in accidents. This is known as urge incontinence.​

Waking up more often during the night to pass urine can be a sign of an enlarged prostate. You might feel like you need to go to the bathroom more often, especially at night, which can disturb your sleep.​

Frustrating as it is, sometimes people with an enlarged prostate feel like they still need to pee after they have just passed urine.​

Other common urinary symptoms include needing to start and stop several times when peeing, having a weak stream of urine, and struggling to pass urine.​

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, consider taking the test below.​

Understanding your prostate

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized round gland that sits below the bladder and wraps around the urethra, the thin tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. Its main job is to help make fluid for semen.

As you get older, it’s common for the prostate to become larger. Importantly, BPE is not prostate cancer. In fact, although complications can occur, an enlarged prostate is rarely a serious health problem. Still, even if it’s not serious, you do not have to live with its effects. Your urologist will work with you to find treatments that may help.

One condition, many names

Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE) is also known by a range of other names including Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostate gland enlargement, and an enlarged prostate. All these terms refer to the same condition.

 

Contributing factors for BPE and ​Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)​

The exact reasons why prostate enlargement occurs is unknown.​ There are some factors that can increase the likelihood of developing BPE.

Age​

Prostate enlargement is more common for people over the age of 50. The older you get, the more likely you may be to develop an enlarged prostate.

Family history

In some patients, genetics may contribute to their risk of developing BPE. For example, if your father had an enlarged prostate, you may be at an increased risk too.​

Lack of exercise

Maintaining an active lifestyle is important as you get older. Regular exercise is associated with improvements in Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) symptoms.

Overweight/obesity

Some evidence suggests that men who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing an enlarged prostate. You may experience Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) such as leaking, a sudden need to pee, or feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder.

Enlarged prostate complications

As the prostate enlarges and presses against the urethra, the bladder wall may thicken and cause it to weaken over time, which may impact your ability to fully empty your bladder.

These are just a few examples of complications that may arise.

Urinary tract infections

In some cases, your urologist may have you use antibiotics to treat a UTI, although it is not always appropriate to do so.

Urine retention

Not being able to pass urine at all is a medical emergency. Seek urgent medical treatment if you are experiencing urine retention.

Treatments for BPE

Find the right treatment for you

There are a range of treatments for an enlarged prostate, from lifestyle changes and medications to cutting-edge therapies and surgery. Your urologist will help you to decide on the appropriate treatment for you.

Go to BPE Treatments overview
A physician explains unrinary incontinance to her elderly patients

Find a BPE specialist near you

Talk to your urologist about the different treatments for an enlarged prostate. They will be able to explain the options to you and help you make an informed decision based on your symptoms and goals.

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Frequently asked questions about Benign Prostatic Enlargement

The prostate grows naturally with age. It is very common for men over the age of 50 to have an enlarged prostate. This enlargement is infrequently associated with significant health complications, but because the prostate surrounds the urethra near your bladder, an enlarged prostate can interfere with your ability to urinate.

No. Having an enlarged prostate does not mean you have prostate cancer. It does not even mean that you are more likely to develop prostate cancer. However, since the symptoms of both conditions can be similar, it is important to have your urologist check you to be sure.

Frequent urination at night, also known as nocturia, can be caused by a variety of factors, including drinking too much fluid (especially before bed), certain medical conditions including prostate enlargement and even some medications. You should make an appointment with your urologist to discuss your symptoms and what you can do to improve them.

There are a few things that could increase your risk of having an enlarged prostate, including your age, certain medical conditions, and yes, having a family history of the condition.

There are several ways to treat prostate enlargement. While surgery is one option, you should talk to your urologist to find out which treatments may be appropriate to suit your condition and goals.

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