Prostate enlargement
Prostate gland enlargement is called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Benign means non-cancerous. Prostatic means of the prostate. Hyperplasia means over-growth of cells.
It's normal for your prostate gland to get bigger around the age of 40. Many men won't have any symptoms with this enlargement. But for some men, it can cause problems with urinating (weeing). This is due to the gland tightening around your urethra, the tube you pass urine through.
See your GP if you're having problems urinating or have any symptoms that might suggest a problem with your prostate. Your GP might ask you to complete a scoresheet of your symptoms called an International prostate symptoms score (IPSS).
Your doctor might carry out a digital rectal examination. This is when they gently insert a lubricated gloved finger into your back passage to examine your prostate. They may also talk to you about having a PSA blood test.
Some men with more severe symptoms of BPH will need treatment for it. This can be with medication such as doxazosin or finasteride, or surgery.
An enlarged prostate isn't prostate cancer and doesn't cause cancer. But cancer can happen in an enlarged prostate gland, so it's important to keep having regular checks with your GP.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
On the next page: Prostate surgery
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by clinical director, Urology, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed March 2018.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
British Association of Urological Surgeons – Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate gland, retrieved October 2017.
Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group – PSA testing for prostate cancer (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/856976/
PSA_testing_for_prostate_cancer_information_for_well_men.pdf). Retrieved April 2016.
Cancer Society – Prostate cancer. Retrieved March 2022.
Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Prostate Cancer - Diagnosis, retrieved October 2017.
Kupe – Retrieved March 2022.
NHS – Prostatitis. Retrieved January 2019.
NHS – Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), retrieved September, 2017.
Patient.info – Prostate Gland Enlargement. Retrieved April 2016.
Patient.info – Prostatitis. Retrieved January 2019.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. Retrieved March 2022.
Southern Cross – Enlarged prostate - benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Retrieved April 2016.
Urology Unit, Canterbury DHB. What happens after a prostate biopsy. Authorised by: Nurse Manager, Urology Unit. July 2016. Ref 237713.
WebMD – What is the prostate? (http://www.webmd.com/men/prostate-enlargement-bph/what-is-the-prostate#1). Retrieved April 2016.
Image and embedded video sources
Blood being taken image – From Shutterstock (image ID 510475060). April 2018.
Male reproductive system image – From Shutterstock (image ID 127210979). November 2015.
Man in countryside image – From Shutterstock (image ID 54026611). August 2018.
Microscope analysis image – From Shutterstock (image ID 606379304). April 2018.
Prostate surgery image – From Shutterstock (image ID 167475845). April 2018.
Tired man image – From Shutterstock (image ID 284497310). December 2015.
Page reference: 223790
Review key: HIPRH-45800
