An enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem in
men.
An enlarged prostate
is common in men after the age of about 50. You may hear an
enlarged prostate called benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) or
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Having an enlarged prostate
does not mean you have cancer.
In some cases, an enlarged prostate can cause the urethra to
narrow which can slow down
or stop the flow of urine.
About 4 out of every 10 men over the age of 50 (40 per cent) and
3 out of 4 men in their 70s (75 per cent) have urinary symptoms
that are caused by an enlarged prostate.
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What causes an enlarged
prostate?
We don't yet fully understand what causes the prostate gland to
grow. However, there are two risk factors that we do know
about:
Age
Your risk of developing an enlarged prostate increases as you
get older. Many men over the age of 50 will have an enlarged
prostate gland but not all will get symptoms.
Hormone levels
The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older
and this may cause your prostate gland to grow.
Other factors
Some studies have shown that obese men and men who have diabetes
may be more at risk of developing an enlarged prostate. You may be
able to reduce your risk by doing more exercise. However, we still
need more studies into the causes of enlarged prostate to know for
certain if, and how, we can prevent it.
There is also some research that suggests you may be more at
risk of developing an enlarged prostate if your father or brother
have the condition. Again, further studies are needed to confirm
this.
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How is an enlarged
prostate diagnosed?
Your GP may do some tests to diagnose an enlarged prostate. They
may also refer you to a specialist doctor or nurse at the
hospital.
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What are the treatment
options for an enlarged prostate?
There are three main types of treatment
for an enlarged prostate:
- lifestyle changes
- medicines
- surgery.
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Am I
more likely to get prostate cancer if I have an enlarged
prostate?
Having an enlarged prostate does not put you at greater risk of
getting prostate cancer. The two conditions begin in different
areas of the prostate gland. However, it is possible to have both
an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer at the same time. In most
cases, early prostate cancer does not cause any urinary symptoms.
Visit your GP if you are concerned about prostate cancer. You can
also call our Specialist Nurses on our confidential helpline.
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