{"id":21364,"date":"2022-01-01T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?p=21364"},"modified":"2026-05-28T04:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T04:17:25","slug":"what-causes-an-enlarged-prostate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/prostate-health\/what-causes-an-enlarged-prostate\/","title":{"rendered":"What Causes An Enlarged Prostate?"},"content":{"rendered":"Prostate problems usually remain anonymous and unknown for men before reaching 40 years old. After that age, you have many reasons to learn about prostate health.\n\n\n\n\n\nUnderstanding what your prostate is and what causes enlarged prostate is paramount. It is the only way to detect urinary symptoms<\/a>, solve them, and avoid further complications.\n\n\n\n\n\nMen usually ask what causes an enlarged prostate. When this gland grows very big, they think it is due to prostate cancer. Actually, there\u2019s a common misunderstanding that benign enlarged prostate causes cancer or erectile dysfunction (1).\n\n\n\n\n\nNowadays, prostate enlargement is as common as diabetes and heart disease. As such, it requires our attention even if we do not have any urinary symptoms.\n\n\n\n\n
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What is an enlarged prostate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nThe prostate is an essential gland in the male reproductive system. It contributes to the semen volume and synthesizes a substance that supports sperm cells.\n\n\n\n\n\nThis gland is below the urinary bladder, surrounding the urethra. In the bladder neck. Thus, as it grows, it can put pressure over the urethra or the urinary bladder. However, what is an enlarged prostate? Is it the same as prostate cancer?\n\n\n\n\n\nAn enlarged prostate is simply a gland that increased in size. It is not caused by cancer. Another medical term is benign prostatic enlargement, where benign means there\u2019s no cancer. Another name is benign prostatic hyperplasia<\/a> (BPH).\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen we talk about hyperplasia, we refer to an increase in number and not size. Thus, in prostatic hyperplasia, there are more prostate cells (2). However, they remain the same size as normal prostate tissue<\/a>. Such an increase in the number of cells causes an enlarged prostate. It usually starts in men after the age of 40. But they typically find out when they are near their 50s (3).\n\n\n\n\n\nIn some cases, an enlarged prostate grows evenly. In other instances, prostate growth is more irregular. When the overgrowth is near the center, it presses the urethra<\/a> on the outside.\n\n\n\n\n\nAs a result, the urethra becomes narrow, compromising the urine flow. As a result, 1 out of 3 men over 50 years old report urinary symptoms. In the majority of cases, they are caused by an enlarged prostate gland (3).\n\n\n\n\n
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Symptoms of an enlarged prostate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nAs mentioned above, the most common symptoms of an enlarged prostate are urination problems. It\u2019s because the prostate portion surrounding the urethra narrows the normal passage of urine. These problems become worse as the patient gets older.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe progression prolongs which some patients may not even realize. They learn to live with the symptoms and sometimes won\u2019t even report them. However, it is crucial to recognize the symptoms of an enlarged prostate<\/a> and consult your doctor.\n\n\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a list of the most important symptoms (2, 4).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The urgency to urinate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nThis is a sudden and unexpected urge to urinate due to an irritation of the urinary bladder.\n\n\n\n\n

Frequent urination<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nPatients report going to the bathroom several times throughout the day, sometimes with a normal urinary volume<\/a> each time, and sometimes with a reduced urinary volume.\n\n\n\n\n

Nocturia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nUrinary frequency is increased in the night, (nocturia<\/a>) and patients need to wake up several times to urinate. In severe cases, it contributes to sleep problems<\/a>.\n\n\n\n\n

Urgency incontinence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nAs a result of the sudden urge to urinate, some patients may even leak urine unexpectedly. This is a type of urinary incontinence<\/a>.\n\n\n\n\n

Urinary hesitancy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA difficulty to start the urine stream.\n\n\n\n\n

Urinary intermittency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nWhen the flow of urine is not continuous. Instead, patients stop and resume the urinary steam several times to empty their bladder.\n\n\n\n\n

Weak urinary stream<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nThe stream of urine is weak and slow.\n\n\n\n\n

Straining<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nPatients need to push hard and force their pelvic muscles to empty the bladder fully.\n\n\n\n\n

Terminal dribble<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nWhen the main urinary stream finishes, patients have continuous drops of urine. They keep going for longer than usual and are sometimes followed by another urinary flow.\n\n\n\n\n

Post micturition dribble<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nAfter passing urine, the patient experiences an involuntary loss of urine. It is a common cause of wet pants after going to the bathroom.\n\n\n\n\n

A sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nPatients feel the bladder is not completely empty. They usually push harder and manage to continue passing urine.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Other Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nNote that erection problems<\/a> are not on the list, as many people believe. In some cases, patients with an enlarged prostate may experience more severe symptoms. Urinary retention is a complication of prostate enlargement that usually appears in patients who:\n\n\n\n\n