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Prostate gland enlargement - Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

The prostate is a sex gland in men. It is about the size of a walnut, and surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder. It is partly muscular and partly glandular, with ducts opening into the prostatic portion of the urethra. It is made up of three lobes: a center lobe with one lobe on each side.  The gland's primary function is to produce most of the fluids in semen, the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

From birth to young adulthood, the prostate grows from about the size of a pea to about the size of a walnut. Most men experience a second period of prostate growth in their mid- to late 40s. At this time, cells in the central portion of the gland — where the prostate surrounds the urethra — begin to reproduce more rapidly. As tissues in the area enlarge, they often compress the urethra and partially block urine flow.

The presence or absence of prostate gland enlargement is not related to the development of prostate cancer.

• Prostate cancer

Treatment depends on your signs and symptoms and may include medications, surgery or nonsurgical therapies.

Signs and symptoms

Prostate enlargement varies in severity from man to man, and doesn't always pose a problem. Only about half the men with prostate enlargement experience signs and symptoms that become noticeable or bothersome enough for them to seek medical treatment. These signs and symptoms may include:

• Weak urine stream

• Difficulty starting urination

• Stopping and starting again while urinating

• Dribbling at the end of urination

• Frequent need to urinate

• Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)

• Urgent need to urinate

• Not being able to completely empty the bladder

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)

• Urinary tract infection