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• Highlights
• Introduction
• Symptoms
• Causes of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Causes of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Diagnostic Tests
• Treatment
• Lifestyle Changes
• Medications
• Other Treatments
• Resources
• References

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of BPH.

Alternative Names

Enlarged prostate

Risk Factors

About 5.5 million American men have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that could warrant medical attention. Age is the major risk factor. BPH occurs in about 60% of men over 60 years of age and over 80% of men over age 80.

Family History

A family history of BPH appears to increase a man's chance of developing the condition. One study reported that men with BPH who had three or more family members with the condition had much larger prostate glands than men with BPH without such a family history.

Medical Conditions

Some evidence suggests a higher incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia -- particularly fast-growing BPH -- in men with obesity, heart and circulatory diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes and hypertension, in any case, worsen urinary tract symptoms in men with BPH. In one study, diabetes adversely affected flow rates, although residual urine volumes were not significantly greater.

• Review Date: 6/26/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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