Guide
Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Basics: Symptoms, Causes and Next Steps
An enlarged prostate, or BPH, is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate and the most common prostate problem in men over 50. It can cause a weak stream, urgency and night-time trips to the bathroom. The same signs can come from infection, bladder problems or cancer, so a doctor should check them.
Written by the Protoflow label teamUpdated
The condition01
What is an enlarged prostate?
An enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland, and it is the most common prostate problem in men over 50 (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)).
BPH is common, not cancer, and treatable. Symptoms that look like it can have other causes, so get them checked.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland below the bladder that surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and make the bladder work harder. Over time the bladder wall thickens, and it may not empty fully. That is the story behind the symptoms below.
"Benign" means it is not cancer. It also does not raise the chance of getting prostate cancer on its own, but a man can have both, which is why symptoms should be checked and not assumed to be harmless. Most men with BPH never need surgery.
Signs02
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
A weak or interrupted stream, urgency, going often, and waking at night to urinate are the classic ones (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)).
Other signs include dribbling at the end, straining to start, and a feeling that the bladder is not empty after you finish. Symptoms can be mild for years, then rise. They often change from week to week, which makes it hard to judge a remedy by feel alone. A short diary of night-time trips, as on our night-time urination page, gives a better view.
A seven-night diary
For each night, count the times you got up to urinate. Fill in what you have; the average updates as you type.
Fill in a night to see the average. Bring the numbers to your appointment.
Look-alikes03
What else can cause the same symptoms?
Bladder problems, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, diabetes, some medicines and prostate cancer can all cause similar signs (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)).
That is the biggest reason to see a doctor first. A man who treats a urinary infection or diabetes as "just my prostate" can lose months, and the cost is higher the longer it runs. MedlinePlus adds drinking late in the day and certain medicines to the list of causes of waking at night (MedlinePlus, Nocturia). A doctor can ask about those, test the urine, check blood sugar and examine the prostate.
- Enlarged prostate (BPH)The gland presses on the urethra, so the bladder never fully empties and fills sooner.See a doctor
- Evening drinksLarge drinks, caffeine and alcohol late in the day make more urine at night.Try a change
- DiabetesHigh blood sugar pulls extra water into the urine, day and night.See a doctor
- Urinary infectionBurning, urgency and getting up often; needs testing and treatment.See a doctor
- Sleep apneaPauses in breathing change hormone signals that tell the kidneys to slow down at night.See a doctor
- MedicinesWater pills (diuretics) taken late in the day are a common cause.See a doctor
- Swelling in the legsFluid that collects in the legs by day moves back to the blood when lying down.See a doctor
- Habit and light sleepSome people wake for another reason and then go because they are up.Try a change
- Aging bladderBladder capacity and nighttime urine output change with age.Try a change
Commonly listed causes of waking at night to urinate, from MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Nocturia) and NIDDK (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)). Only a clinician can tell which applies to you.
Tests04
How do doctors check for an enlarged prostate?
They usually ask about symptoms, examine the prostate, test the urine, and may discuss a PSA blood test.
The PSA test measures a protein made by the prostate. Levels can rise with BPH, prostatitis, infection, a recent biopsy, vigorous exercise such as cycling, and ejaculation, so a high number does not mean cancer (NCI, PSA Test). The National Cancer Institute says the test is not recommended for routine screening of the general population, that there is no single normal cutoff, and that false positives are common. The choice to test is one to make with a doctor after discussing pros and cons.
Some drugs for BPH lower PSA, so tell the doctor about every medicine and supplement before a test. Saw palmetto does not appear to change PSA (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto).
Protoflow: from $49 a bottle60 capsules · 2 a day · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsTreatment05
How is an enlarged prostate treated?
Options run from watchful waiting and small habit changes to medicines, procedures and surgery (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)).
| Approach | What it involves | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Watchful waiting | Regular check-ups, no treatment yet | You and your doctor |
| Habit changes | Less fluid, alcohol and caffeine, especially in the evening | You, with advice |
| Alpha blockers | Prescription tablets that relax muscle at the bladder neck | A prescriber |
| 5-alpha reductase inhibitors | Prescription tablets that can shrink the gland over months; lower PSA | A prescriber |
| Procedures and surgery | Remove or reduce prostate tissue | A urologist |
This table is a general map from NIDDK's overview, not advice for your case. Supplements are not on the list because they are not treatments, and the best-studied one, saw palmetto, did not help in NIH-funded trials (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto).
Urgent06
When should you seek care straight away?
Seek care right away if you cannot urinate, have blood in your urine, or have painful urination with fever and chills (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)).
Those are not signs to wait out. Being unable to pass urine can damage the bladder and kidneys. A fever with pain suggests infection that may spread. Blood in the urine needs a cause found. Go to an urgent care unit or emergency department. Keep taking prescribed medicine, and bring a list of what you take, including supplements.
See a doctor today
- You cannot pass urine at all, or only a few drops with a full, painful bladder
- Blood or clots in the urine
- Fever or chills with burning or painful urination
- Severe pain in the lower belly, back or genitals
- A sudden change after a fall or injury
Book an appointment
- A weak or slow stream, or stopping and starting
- Needing to go again soon after you finish
- Waking more than usual at night to urinate
- A sudden, strong urge that is hard to hold
- Dribbling after you finish
- A new erection problem, or a PSA you have not discussed
Urinary symptoms can come from an enlarged prostate, infection, diabetes, medicines, sleep apnea, and sometimes cancer. Lists drawn from NIDDK (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)) and MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Nocturia). A supplement cannot sort these causes out.
Supplements07
Where do supplements like Protoflow fit?
They are optional extras that do not treat BPH and have not been shown to shrink the gland or fix urine flow.
Protoflow is a dietary supplement. Its label says it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you choose to try it, do so after you have had your symptoms checked, tell your doctor and keep taking prescribed medicine. The prostate supplements guide explains how to judge any such product.
FAQ08
Enlarged prostate basics: questions answered
Is an enlarged prostate cancer?
No. BPH is a non-cancerous growth. Similar symptoms can come from cancer, though, so have them checked.
At what age does the prostate enlarge?
BPH is the most common prostate problem in men over 50, and many men notice signs in their 50s and 60s.
Does an enlarged prostate cause erectile dysfunction?
They are separate problems that often occur in the same men because both are linked with age. A doctor can sort out which applies.
Can an enlarged prostate go away on its own?
It usually does not shrink on its own. Symptoms can rise and fall, which is why a diary and a check-up are better than guessing.
What foods or drinks affect prostate symptoms?
Evening fluids, alcohol and caffeine can make symptoms feel worse. NIDDK lists changing them as one first step.
Do I need a PSA test?
That is a decision to make with your doctor. NCI says the test is not recommended for routine screening of the general population.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized retailer of Protoflow, not by the manufacturer or the label distributor. Buying through our order links earns us money.
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