Enlarged Prostate

A very common, non-cancerous swelling of the prostate that can make it harder to pass urine (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)

What Is an Enlarged Prostate?

The prostate is a small gland, about the size of a walnut, that only men have. It sits just below the bladder and wraps around the tube that carries urine out of the body (the urethra).

As men get older, the prostate often grows bigger. This is a normal part of ageing and is not cancer. Doctors call it benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short. "Benign" simply means "not cancer."

When the prostate grows, it can squeeze the urine tube — a bit like standing on a garden hose. This can make it harder to pass urine and cause the bothersome symptoms below.

Common Symptoms

The symptoms are all about how you pass urine. You might notice:

How big the prostate is does not always match how bad the symptoms feel. Some men with a large prostate have few problems, while others with only slight swelling are very bothered.

Is It Cancer?

An enlarged prostate (BPH) is not cancer, and having it does not raise your chance of getting prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer can cause some of the same urine symptoms.

Simple Steps That Can Help

If your symptoms are mild, a few everyday changes often make a real difference — and no medicine is needed:

• Cut back on drinks in the evening, especially before bed, so you wake up less at night.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol (tea, coffee, cola, beer) — these make you pass urine more and can irritate the bladder.
• Take your time when you go, and try going again a minute or two later to empty the bladder more fully ("double voiding").
• Check your medicines. Some cold and allergy tablets can make symptoms worse. Ask your pharmacist or doctor.
• Stay active and keep to a healthy weight.

Treatment Options

There are good treatments, and the right choice depends on how much the symptoms bother you. Health guidelines encourage you and your doctor to decide together, based on what matters most to you.

1. Watchful waiting

If symptoms are mild and not troubling you, it is perfectly safe to simply keep an eye on them with your doctor and try the lifestyle steps above. No treatment may be needed at all.

2. Medicines

If symptoms are more bothersome, tablets often help. There are two main kinds:

• Tablets that relax the prostate (such as tamsulosin). These ease the flow of urine and often start working within days.
• Tablets that shrink the prostate (such as finasteride). These work more slowly, over several months, and suit men with a larger prostate.

Sometimes both types are used together for a stronger effect.

3. Procedures and surgery

If medicines do not help enough, or if symptoms are severe, there are safe procedures that remove or shrink the extra prostate tissue to open up the urine flow. Today many of these are done in ways that need little or no cutting, and your doctor can explain the options that fit you best.

⚠️ When to See Your Family Doctor

See your doctor if urine symptoms are bothering you or getting worse. Go urgently — the same day — if you have any of these:

• You suddenly cannot pass urine at all (this is an emergency)
• Blood in your urine
• Pain or burning when passing urine, or a fever (this may be an infection)
• Feeling generally unwell along with the urine problems

Do not feel embarrassed to bring this up — it is one of the most common reasons men see their doctor, and simple help is available.

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References

Goueli, R., Badlani, G. H., Welliver, C., et al. (2026). Management of lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia: AUA guideline (2026) Part II: Medical management. Journal of Urology, 216(2), 152–160. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000005098

Sandhu, J. S., Bixler, B. R., Dahm, P., Goueli, R., Kirkby, E., Stoffel, J. T., & Wilt, T. J. (2024). Management of lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): AUA guideline amendment 2023. Journal of Urology, 211(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003698

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