BPH; Benign prostatic hypertrophy (hyperplasia); Prostate - enlarged

Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, which include:

• Dribbling at the end of urinating
• Inability to urinate (urinary retention)
• Incomplete emptying of your bladder
• Incontinence
• Needing to urinate two or more times per night
• Pain with urination or bloody urine (these may indicate infection)
• Slowed or delayed start of the urinary stream
• Straining to urinate
• Strong and sudden urge to urinate
• Weak urine stream

After taking a complete medical history, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate gland. The following tests may also be performed:

• Urine flow rate
• Post-void residual urine test to see how much urine is left in your bladder after urination
• Pressure flow studies to measure the pressure in the bladder as you urinate
• Urinalysis to check for blood or infection
• Urine culture to check for infection
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer
• Cystoscopy

In addition, you may be asked to complete a form to evaluate the severity of your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. Your score may be compared to past records to determine if the condition is getting worse.

Images

Enlarged prostate gland

Male reproductive anatomy

BPH

Review Date: 08/10/2009
Reviewed By: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Also reviewed by Scott Miller, MD, Urologist, private practice, Atlanta, Georgia.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)