What it is
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) means the prostate has grown larger, without cancer. Because the prostate wraps around the urethra — the tube that carries urine out — a bigger prostate can squeeze it and make urinating harder.[1]
The prostate has two growth phases: it roughly doubles in size at puberty, then begins a second, slow phase around age 25 that continues for life. BPH usually develops late in that second phase.[1] It is not caused by cancer.[1]
BPH is a non-malignant proliferation of the stromal and epithelial cells of the prostate, typically in the transition zone around the prostatic urethra, producing bladder-outlet obstruction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).[2] Assessment includes history, digital rectal exam, urinalysis and, as appropriate, PSA, urodynamics, cystoscopy and transrectal ultrasound.[1]
See the prostate around the urethra — and move the age slider to watch it grow (illustration).
See it in 3DHow common it is
What happens with age
The prostate keeps growing slowly from about 25 onward, so BPH symptoms become more common the older you get.[1] In the 3D Explorer's age timeline, the prostate grows gradually from 40 — an illustration of the direction of change, not a measurement.
Causes and risk factors
Things you can't change
Things you can change
- Obesity, physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes, heart and blood vessel disease and chronic kidney disease are linked to BPH.[1] Managing these helps your health overall.
Symptoms worth reporting to a doctor
- Trouble starting to urinate, or feeling the bladder isn't empty afterwards
- A weak or interrupted stream, or dribbling at the end
- Needing to urinate often, including at night
- A strong, sudden urge to urinate
- Pain when urinating
These symptoms overlap with other conditions, including prostate cancer, so they are worth discussing with a clinician.[1]
Get urgent care if…
How it's diagnosed
- History and physical exam
- Including symptoms, medicines, fluid intake, family history and a digital rectal exam.[1]
- Urine test (urinalysis)
- Checks for infection or blood.[1]
- PSA blood test
- Sometimes used; PSA can be raised by BPH as well as cancer.[1][3]
- Urodynamic tests, cystoscopy and ultrasound
- Measure how well the bladder stores and empties, look inside the urethra and bladder, or image the prostate.[1]
Types of treatment
- Watchful waiting and lifestyle changes. For mild symptoms: yearly check-ups, drinking less before bed or outings, limiting alcohol and caffeine, staying active and emptying the bladder fully.[1]
- Medicines. Alpha blockers relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder neck; 5-alpha reductase inhibitors shrink the prostate or slow its growth; some men use a combination. PDE-5 inhibitors can also ease some symptoms.[1]
- Minimally invasive procedures. Such as water vapour therapy or a prostatic urethral lift, which uses small implants to hold prostate tissue away from the urethra.[1]
- Surgery. For example transurethral resection or laser procedures, considered when medicines don't help, symptoms are severe or complications develop.[1]
Which option fits depends on the details of each person’s situation. Your care team decides with you.
What you can do
Time your drinks
Drink less in the hours before bed or a long trip — but don't cut total fluids so far that you become dehydrated.[1]
Stay active
Physical inactivity is linked to BPH; regular activity also helps weight and blood sugar.[1][4]
Bring your symptoms up
Urinary changes are common and treatable. Tell your clinician rather than putting up with them.[1]
Questions to ask your doctor
- Are my symptoms caused by BPH or something else?
- Do I need a PSA test or other tests?
- Which treatment would you suggest first, and what are its side effects?
- Could any of my current medicines be making things worse?
- What signs mean I should get help urgently?
Myth vs. fact
Guided lesson
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Start chapter 1 freeRelated topics
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Trouble getting or keeping an erection is common and treatable — and it can be an early clue to heart and blood-vessel problems worth checking.
Prostate cancer
Apart from skin cancer, the most common cancer in American men. Many grow slowly; some don't. Here's what it is, who is at risk, and how the PSA decision works.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes
Blood sugar that stays too high. Millions have it without knowing — and prediabetes can often be stopped from progressing.
Sources
- NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prostate Enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). Checked 23 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. Understanding Prostate Changes: A Health Guide for Men. Checked 23 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. Prostate Cancer Screening (PDQ®) – Patient Version. Checked 23 October 2026.
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Top 10 Things to Know. Checked 23 October 2026.
The owner of this website is not a doctor. Human Atlas provides educational anatomy information and does not diagnose, stage, or treat disease. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything concerning your own health.