The Prostate is a gland made of solid tissue that sits right under a man’s bladder and surrounds its outlet. The prostate’s job is to make semen so sperm that are shot up from the testes at ejaculation have got transport and food for their journey to the promised land of the female fallopian tube.

The Prostate is normally about the size of a walnut, but once men hit their 50s and beyond it’s very common for their prostate to grow. This is not cancer and appears to have nothing to do with cancer. We don’t know exactly why the prostate decides to grow at this point, but it appears to be due to some interplay between hormones.

Because the Prostate surrounds the bladder outlet, when it enlarges it sometimes constricts the outlet, causing a weak flow of urine and incomplete bladder emptying. This can lead to other symptoms such as urgency and frequency of urination, commonly at night (nocturia). All together, we call these lower urinary tract symptoms.

Enlargement of the Prostate is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It occurs when the cells of the Prostate gland begin to multiply. These additional cells cause your prostate gland to swell, which squeezes the urethra and limits the flow of urine. This is excruciatingly painful and requires urgent insertion of a catheter, which externally drains the urine.

BPH isn’t the same as Prostate Cancer and doesn’t increase your risk for cancer. However, it can cause symptoms that can affect your quality of life.

BPH is common in men over 50.

Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement

The severity of symptoms in people who have prostate gland enlargement varies, but symptoms tend to gradually worsen over time. Common signs and symptoms of BPH include:

Less common signs and symptoms include:

Conditions that can lead to symptoms similar to those caused by enlarged prostate include:

Prostate Enlargement Awareness

Natural treatment can include specific actions or lifestyle changes that you can make to help relieve your symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). These include:

Urinating as soon as you feel the urge.

Going to the bathroom to urinate, even when you don’t feel the urge.

Avoiding over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamine medications, which can make it harder for the bladder to empty.

Avoiding alcohol and caffeine, especially in the hours after dinner.

Reducing your stress level, as nervousness can increase the frequency of urination.

Exercising regularly, as a lack of exercise can aggravate your symptoms.

Learning and practicing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles.

Keeping warm, since being cold can make symptoms worse.