The prostate is a gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body.
An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. As the gland grows, it can block the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.
Some changes in your everyday life may help relieve your symptoms:
Learn about exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles if you have problems with leaking or losing control of your urine. Once you know what the movement feels like, do these exercises three times a day.
Your health care provider may prescribe a medicine called alpha-1- blocker (doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin, and alfuzosin).
Finasteride and dutasteride (5 alpha-reductase-bph inhibitors) may also be prescribed.
Watch out for drugs that may make your symptoms worse:
Many herbs and supplements have been tried for treating an enlarged prostate.
Call your doctor right away if you have:
Also call your doctor if:
BPH - self-care; Benign prostatic hypertrophy - self-care; Benign prostatic hyperplasia - self-care
Roehrborn CG. Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Med Clin North Am. 2011 Jan;95(1):87-100.
McVary KT, Roehrborn CG, Avins AL, Barry MJ, Bruskewitz RC, Donnell RF, et al. Update on AUA guideline on the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2011 May;185(5):1793-803. Epub 2011 Mar 21.
Tacklind J, Fink HA, Macdonald R, Rutks I, Wilt TJ. Finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Oct 6;(10):CD006015.
Updated by: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Chief of Urology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Visiting Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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