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Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged as part of the aging process.
Generally, prostate growth is negligible between puberty and middle age. When a man reaches about 40 years of age, however, hormonal changes may cause the prostate to begin growing again. This noncancerous (benign) growth is called "hyperplasia."
Not all men experience this enlargement; in those who do, the condition is not always progressive. Studies have found enlarged prostates in about 40% of men over age 55, rising to 70% in men over 70, and to 80% over age 80 and beyond.
When the prostate enlarges, the surrounding tissue prevents it from expanding. This squeezes the gland inward, causing it to pinch the urethra and restrict the flow of urine from the bladder. The more the prostate grows, the more the urethra is constricted and the harder the bladder muscles must squeeze to force urine out. This can cause the muscles of the bladder wall to grow thicker, stronger and more irritable, creating a need to urinate frequently, even when the bladder contains only a small amount of urine.
Over time, this can cause urinary tract infections (UTI's), difficulty in starting or sustaining urination or an inability to empty the bladder completely (urinary retention). Occasionally, a complete blockage of the urethra results, causing a serious condition called acute urinary retention.