Version July 2025
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What is benign prostatic hyperplasia? —
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or "BPH," is an enlarged prostate. The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis) (figure 1). This gland often gets bigger as a person gets older.
BPH is a common problem. It has nothing to do with prostate cancer. In fact, the word "benign" means "not cancer."
What are the symptoms of BPH? —
Many people have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
●Needing to urinate often, especially at night
●Trouble starting to urinate (having to wait or strain before urine will come out)
●A weak urine stream
●Leaking or dribbling urine
●Feeling like your bladder is not empty even after urinating
In rare cases, BPH can make it so you cannot urinate at all. This is a serious problem. If you cannot urinate at all, call your doctor right away.
Is there a test for BPH? —
Yes. Your doctor can check for BPH by doing a rectal exam. They will put a finger into your anus to check how big your prostate is and what it feels like (figure 2). Your doctor might also do urine or blood tests to see if your symptoms might be caused by another problem, such as a bladder infection.
If you have symptoms like the ones listed above, see your doctor or nurse. They can figure out if BPH is what's causing them. These symptoms can also be caused by other problems, so it's important to have them checked out.
What can I do on my own to feel better? —
Your doctor can talk to you about changes you can make to help with BPH symptoms. For example, it can help to:
●Limit how much fluid you drink before going to bed or going out.
●Limit caffeine and alcohol, which can make you urinate more often.
●Limit foods that can irritate your bladder, like spicy foods.
●Avoid getting constipation. Eat foods with a lot of fiber.
●Increase physical activity, including getting regular exercise.
●Keep a healthy body weight.
●Avoid cold and allergy medicines that contain antihistamines or decongestants. These can make BPH symptoms worse.
●Do "double voiding." That means that after you empty your bladder, wait a moment, relax, and try to urinate again.
●Urinate at regular times, for example, every 90 to 120 minutes during the day.
●Squeeze the muscles that control the flow of urine. This can make them stronger.
How is BPH treated? —
Your doctor can talk to you about your treatment options. But you don't have to get treated if your symptoms do not bother you. Unless you lose the ability to urinate completely, leaving BPH untreated will not hurt you.
The lifestyle changes above can often help with symptoms. Other treatment options include:
●Medicines – There are 2 types of medicine commonly used to treat BPH. One relaxes the muscles that surround the urethra. The other keeps the prostate from growing more or even helps shrink it. In some cases, doctors suggest taking both types of medicine at the same time. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might also suggest other medicines.
●Surgery – There are several ways to treat BPH with surgery. They can involve removing some of the prostate, shrinking the prostate, or making the urethra wider so more urine can flow through. For most of these procedures, a doctor inserts special tools into the urethra.
Which treatment should I have? —
The right treatment for you depends on:
●How much your symptoms bother you
●How you feel about the different treatment options
Doctors often suggest trying lifestyle changes first, since they usually work well. If your symptoms do not get better, you might try medicines. If medicines don't do enough, surgery is also an option. As you think about your choices, remember that treatments can have a downside. For example, medicines can cause side effects. Surgery has some general risks, and can also sometimes cause problems with sex and other side effects.
When you're thinking about which treatment to have, ask your doctor or nurse these questions:
●How likely is it that this treatment will improve my symptoms?
●What are the risks or side effects of this treatment?
●What happens if I don't have this treatment?
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you:
●Have pain in your back, shoulder, or belly
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, burning, or pain when urinating
●Cannot urinate, or have more problems urinating
Patient education: Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinary incontinence in males (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinary retention (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinalysis (The Basics)
Patient education: Prostate biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Prostatectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Suprapubic catheter placement (The Basics)
Patient education: Bladder training (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic floor muscle exercises (The Basics)
Patient education: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Beyond the Basics)
