Prostate Health & BPH: A Brief Guide

What Is BPH & Why It Matters

• BPH stands for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, which means non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.
• As men age, the prostate often grows and may press against the urethra, making urination more difficult.
• BPH is very common — many men over age 50 experience some prostate enlargement.
• Having BPH does not by itself mean you have prostate cancer.

How the Prostate & Bladder Work (Normal vs. BPH)

• The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine out).
• Under normal conditions, as the bladder fills, it signals the brain and urine is released when appropriate.
• In BPH, enlarged prostate tissue can narrow the urethra, increasing resistance to urine flow and causing bladder strain over time.

Common Signs & Symptoms

You may notice one or more of these:

• Urinating more often, especially at night (nocturia)
• Urgency: an intense need to go right away
• Difficulty starting or maintaining the urine stream
• Weak or slow stream
• Stopping and starting (intermittent flow)
• Feeling like the bladder is not fully emptied
• Leakage or dribbling after urination

These are often called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

How Doctors Diagnose BPH

To understand whether BPH is causing your symptoms, doctors commonly use:

• Symptom questionnaires (e.g. IPSS — International Prostate Symptom Score)
• Physical exam, including a digital rectal exam (DRE)
• Urinalysis to check for infection or other causes
• PSA blood test (in some cases)
• Bladder scan / post-void residual (PVR) — to measure urine left in bladder
• Imaging or urodynamic studies in certain cases (to assess bladder function)

Lifestyle & Self-Care Strategies

You can often help ease symptoms with simple habits:

• Limit fluids in the evening to reduce night-time trips
• Avoid known bladder irritants: caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, citrus, carbonation
• Empty your bladder fully; “double void” (urinate, wait a few minutes, then try again)
• Void on a schedule rather than too frequently out of habit
• Manage constipation (straining can worsen symptoms)
• Maintain healthy weight, stay active (as tolerated and approved by your healthcare provider)
• Review medications with your healthcare provider (even over-the-counter ones) that may worsen urinary symptoms

Medical & Procedural Treatment Options

If lifestyle steps aren’t enough, here are common treatments:

Each choice has trade-offs: recovery time, side effects (e.g. sexual or urinary changes), and suitability based on prostate size and health.

When to Contact Your Provider

Seek medical advice if:

• You can’t urinate at all (urinary retention)
• There is blood in the urine
• You experience persistent pain, burning, or infection
• Symptoms suddenly worsen
• You have fever or signs of infection
• Always ask your healthcare provider for specific advice on when to call to report symptoms, and when to seek urgent/emergency care.  

Key Takeaways

• BPH is common and treatable — not a form of cancer.
• Symptoms often begin gradually and worsen over time.
• Lifestyle modifications are foundational and often helpful.
• If symptoms become bothersome, many medical and procedural options exist.
• Early evaluation means safer, more manageable treatments.

This handout is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.

Sources:

• https://www.urologyhealth.org/educational-resources/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-(bph)
• https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnostic-evaluation-of-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia?search=bph&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~133&usage_type=default&display_rank=2
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9100-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia

This content was created with the assistance of AI. Any AI-generated content was reviewed by a Nurse Practitioner.