Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate gland. As the prostate gets bigger, it may cause problems when you urinate. Your score on this tool may help you think about if and how you want to treat the problem.
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. As the prostate gets bigger, it may squeeze or partly block the urethra. This often causes problems with urinating.
BPH occurs in almost all men as they age. It is a common problem in older men. BPH is not cancer. But an enlarged prostate can cause urinary symptoms that need treatment.
Should I worry about an enlarged prostate gland?
BPH can be a bother, but it’s usually not a serious health problem. If you are concerned about your symptoms, talk to your doctor about your options. They may include:
- Small changes to your lifestyle and urination habits, plus regular checkups
- Medicines to help reduce your symptoms.
- Surgery to help correct the problem and reduce your symptoms.
The main thing that helps you decide if and how to treat your symptoms is how much the symptoms bother you, not what your score is.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose BPH by asking about your symptoms and health and by doing a physical examination. Tests may include a urine test and a digital rectal examination. This lets your doctor feel the size of your prostate. Sometimes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is done to help rule out prostate cancer.
When to call your doctor
Call your doctor now if:
- You can’t urinate at all.
- Urination is painful and you have a fever over 38°C (100°F), chills, or body aches.
- You have pain in your lower back, just below your rib cage (flank pain), that is not related to an injury or physical effort.
- There is blood or pus in your urine or semen.
Call your doctor if you have painful urination and any of the following signs of a possible urinary tract infection or prostate infection that last longer than 24 hours:
- A burning sensation while urinating
- Painful ejaculation
- Problems controlling your urination during the day or at night
Call your doctor if you have urination problems that have developed over a few weeks or a few months and that happen often.
Watchful waiting
If urinary symptoms are minor or they don’t bother you too much, and you don’t have prostate cancer or a prostate infection, it may be okay to try watchful waiting or home treatment. Call a doctor if your symptoms change or get worse or if you change your mind about treatment.
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