Quick Answer: What Is an Enlarged Prostate?
An enlarged prostate, medically called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is noncancerous growth of prostate tissue that becomes more common as men age.
- BPH is not prostate cancer and does not turn into prostate cancer.
- As prostate tissue enlarges, it may narrow the urethra and interfere with urine flow.
- Common symptoms include a weak stream, difficulty starting urination, urgency, frequent urination, nighttime urination and a feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied.
- Prostate size does not always match symptom severity. A relatively small enlargement may cause troublesome symptoms, while a large prostate may cause few symptoms.
- Treatment may include monitoring and lifestyle measures, medications, minimally invasive procedures or surgery, depending on symptoms, findings, complications and patient preferences.
What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia means noncancerous growth of the prostate gland.
The medical term can be broken down simply:
- Benign means the condition is not cancer.
- Prostatic refers to the prostate gland.
- Hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells within prostate tissue.
BPH becomes increasingly common as men grow older and is the most common prostate problem in men over age 50.
It is important to distinguish having an enlarged prostate from having symptoms. Some men have prostate enlargement without significant urinary problems.
Where Is the Prostate and What Does It Do?
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It is located:
- below the urinary bladder;
- in front of the rectum;
- and around the first part of the urethra.
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out of the body.
The prostate also contributes fluid to semen. This prostatic fluid forms part of the fluid that supports and transports sperm during ejaculation.
Why Can an Enlarged Prostate Affect Urination?
Urinary symptoms can develop through several related mechanisms:
-
Prostate tissue enlarges.
Growth around the urethra may increase resistance to urine flow. -
The bladder works harder.
Bladder muscle may need to generate more pressure to push urine through the narrowed outlet. -
Emptying may become less efficient.
Some urine may remain in the bladder after urination. -
Bladder function can change over time.
Increased urgency, frequency and nighttime urination may develop.
Prostate Size Does Not Tell the Whole Story
The degree of prostate enlargement does not always predict how severe urinary symptoms will be. Treatment should therefore be based on the whole clinical picture rather than prostate size alone.
What Are the Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate?
BPH symptoms are often described as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
1. Problems With Urine Flow
- difficulty starting urination;
- a weak urine stream;
- a stream that stops and starts;
- straining or pushing to urinate;
- dribbling at the end of urination;
- and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
2. Problems With Urinary Frequency and Urgency
- urinating more frequently than usual;
- a sudden strong urge to urinate;
- waking repeatedly during the night to urinate, called nocturia;
- and occasionally urinary leakage.
3. Symptoms That Need More Careful Evaluation
Pain or burning with urination, fever, blood in the urine or severe pain should not automatically be attributed to BPH.
These symptoms can occur with urinary infection, prostatitis, stones or other urinary tract conditions and deserve medical assessment.
See the complete Enlarged Prostate Symptoms guide .
What Causes an Enlarged Prostate?
Researchers have not identified one single exact cause of BPH.
Current evidence suggests that aging and age-related biological and hormonal changes contribute to prostate growth.
Important risk factors and associations include:
- Increasing age — the strongest established risk factor.
- Family history — BPH is more likely in men with close relatives affected by the condition.
- Obesity and metabolic health — obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are associated with greater BPH risk.
- Physical inactivity — men who are less physically active appear to have a greater likelihood of BPH.
No single food, sexual behavior or lifestyle habit has been proven to be the direct cause of BPH.
Read the detailed guide: Causes and Risk Factors for Enlarged Prostate .
Is an Enlarged Prostate a Normal Part of Aging?
Prostate growth becomes more common as men age, but significant urinary problems should not simply be dismissed as “normal aging.”
There are two important distinctions:
- Prostate enlargement describes increased prostate size.
- Bothersome LUTS/BPH refers to symptoms that may require evaluation or treatment.
A man may therefore have an enlarged prostate with few symptoms, while another may have bothersome symptoms requiring treatment.
How Do Doctors Diagnose BPH?
Diagnosis starts by determining whether your urinary symptoms are likely related to BPH or another condition.
A basic evaluation commonly includes:
-
Medical history
Your doctor asks about urinary symptoms, previous urinary problems, medical conditions, medicines, fluid intake and other relevant factors. -
Physical examination
This may include a digital rectal examination to estimate prostate size and assess other findings. -
Symptom scoring
A questionnaire such as the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) may be used to measure symptom severity and quality-of-life impact. -
Urinalysis
A urine sample can help identify blood, infection, glucose or other abnormalities.
Additional Tests When Needed
Depending on the clinical situation, doctors may also consider:
- PSA testing;
- post-void residual urine measurement;
- uroflowmetry;
- ultrasound or other imaging;
- cystoscopy;
- or urodynamic testing.
Learn more about prostate and BPH testing and PSA and prostate enlargement .
Are All Urinary Symptoms Caused by BPH?
No. Urinary symptoms are not specific to an enlarged prostate.
Other possible explanations include:
- urinary tract infection;
- prostatitis;
- overactive bladder;
- urethral narrowing or stricture;
- bladder stones;
- neurological bladder problems;
- effects of certain medicines;
- diabetes or excessive urine production;
- and prostate cancer in some situations.
This is why persistent urinary symptoms deserve a proper assessment rather than self-diagnosis based only on age.
How Is an Enlarged Prostate Treated?
Treatment depends largely on how bothersome the symptoms are, their effect on quality of life, prostate characteristics, other medical conditions, complications and personal treatment priorities.
The main approaches are:
1. Watchful Waiting and Lifestyle Measures
Men with mild or minimally bothersome symptoms and no concerning complications may not need immediate medication or surgery.
Measures that may help include:
- reducing excessive fluids before bedtime;
- limiting caffeine or alcohol if they worsen symptoms;
- remaining physically active;
- emptying the bladder without rushing;
- and reviewing medicines that may make urinary symptoms worse.
2. BPH Medications
Evidence-based medication options may include:
- alpha blockers such as tamsulosin, alfuzosin or silodosin;
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride or dutasteride;
- daily tadalafil in appropriate patients;
- and selected combination therapies.
Read the complete BPH medications guide .
3. Minimally Invasive Procedures
Some men may be candidates for procedures such as:
- prostatic urethral lift;
- water-vapor thermal therapy;
- robotic waterjet treatment;
- or other appropriately selected procedures.
4. Surgery
Surgical options may be considered when symptoms remain troublesome, complications occur, or a procedural approach better matches the patient’s clinical situation and preferences.
Options can include:
- TURP;
- HoLEP and other laser enucleation procedures;
- laser vaporization;
- Aquablation;
- and simple prostatectomy for selected large prostates.
Compare all approaches in our BPH Treatment Options guide and BPH Surgery guide .
Can an Enlarged Prostate Cause Complications?
Many men do not develop serious complications, but BPH can sometimes interfere significantly with bladder emptying.
Possible complications include:
- Urinary retention — inability to empty the bladder adequately or, in acute cases, inability to urinate at all.
- Recurrent urinary tract infections.
- Bladder stones.
- Blood in the urine.
- Upper urinary tract or kidney problems in selected patients with significant obstruction.
Does an Enlarged Prostate Mean Prostate Cancer?
No. BPH is a benign condition and does not turn into prostate cancer.
However:
- BPH and prostate cancer can occur in the same man;
- some urinary symptoms can overlap;
- and PSA can be influenced by benign prostate enlargement as well as other prostate conditions.
For that reason, an enlarged prostate should not be used by itself either to diagnose or rule out prostate cancer.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Arrange a medical assessment if urinary symptoms are persistent, worsening or affecting your quality of life.
Examples include:
- progressively weaker urine flow;
- difficulty starting urination;
- frequent nighttime urination;
- persistent urgency or frequency;
- a feeling that the bladder does not empty;
- urinary leakage;
- or medication that is no longer controlling symptoms adequately.
Seek Prompt Medical Attention If You:
- cannot urinate at all;
- have painful, frequent or urgent urination together with fever or chills;
- notice blood in your urine;
- develop severe discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen or urinary tract;
- or develop rapidly worsening urinary symptoms.
Complete inability to urinate may represent acute urinary retention and requires prompt medical assessment.
Dr. Albana’s Note
When I speak with men who have been told that their prostate is enlarged, one of the first things I explain is that prostate size alone does not tell us how serious the problem is.
What matters clinically is whether the enlargement is causing bothersome urinary symptoms, whether the bladder is emptying adequately, whether complications are present, and how much the problem is affecting the patient’s daily life and sleep.
Some men need only monitoring. Others benefit from medication. A smaller group may need a urologist to discuss a procedure.
The purpose of evaluation is therefore not simply to confirm that the prostate is large, but to determine what is causing the symptoms and whether treatment is likely to provide meaningful benefit.
— Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc, Family Physician / General Practitioner
Most Asked Questions About Enlarged Prostate
What is the main cause of an enlarged prostate?
Scientists do not know one exact cause. Aging is the strongest established risk factor, and age-related hormonal and biological changes appear to contribute to prostate growth.
At what age does the prostate begin to enlarge?
Prostate tissue continues changing during adult life, but symptomatic BPH is uncommon before age 40 and becomes increasingly common with advancing age.
Does a large prostate always cause urinary problems?
No. Prostate size and urinary symptom severity do not always correspond. Some men with relatively large prostates have few symptoms, while smaller enlargements may cause troublesome urinary obstruction.
Can an enlarged prostate block urine completely?
Yes. In some cases BPH can contribute to acute urinary retention, in which a man cannot urinate. This requires prompt medical assessment.
Does an enlarged prostate mean cancer?
No. BPH is benign and does not turn into prostate cancer. However, the two conditions can occur independently in the same person.
Can an enlarged prostate be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many men are treated with monitoring, lifestyle measures or medication. Procedures are generally considered according to symptom severity, complications, treatment response, anatomy and patient preferences.
Can BPH be cured permanently?
Treatments can substantially improve symptoms and relieve obstruction, but no treatment should be described as a guaranteed permanent cure for every patient. Results and retreatment risk vary according to the treatment used and the individual situation.
Related Enlarged Prostate Guides
Medical References
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK).
Enlarged Prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia).
NIDDK -
Goueli R, et al.
Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline (2026) Part I:
Presentation and Evaluation.
Journal of Urology. 2026.
AUA Guideline — Evaluation -
Goueli R, et al.
Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline (2026) Part II:
Medical Management.
Journal of Urology. 2026.
AUA Guideline — Medical Treatment -
Goueli R, et al.
Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline (2026) Part III:
Procedural/Surgical Management.
Journal of Urology. 2026.
AUA Guideline — Procedures & Surgery
Medical information notice: This article is provided for general education and does not replace an examination, diagnosis, prescription or individualized treatment from your healthcare professional. Urinary symptoms may have causes other than BPH and should be evaluated when persistent, troublesome or worsening.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc • Family Physician / General Practitioner • Last medically reviewed: August 2026