Prostate Enlargement (BPH)

Prostate enlargement, also known as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), is the enlargement of the prostate gland and is very common in older men. Generally, as men grow older, the prostate continues to grow, which can result in urine flow obstruction. BPH is non-cancerous, but it can lead to urinary problems such as possible urinary tract infection, bladder stones, blood in the urine and, in some extreme cases, kidney failure.

BPH can be a progressive disease, especially if left untreated. Incomplete voiding results in stasis of bacteria in the bladder residue and an increased risk of urinary tract infections. Urinary bladder stones are formed from the crystallization of salts in the residual urine. Urinary retention, acute or chronic, is another form of progression. Acute urinary retention is the inability to void, while in chronic urinary retention the residual urinary volume gradually increases, and the bladder distends. Some patients that suffer from chronic urinary retention may eventually progress to renal failure, a condition termed obstructive uropathy.