Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
A urologist, a doctor who treats the urinary tract, treats this condition. A primary care doctor often does the first evaluation. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlarged prostate. The prostate is a gland in men that lies just below the bladder. It makes fluid that is part of semen. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.
Benign means not cancer. Hyperplasia means too much cell growth. BPH is not cancer and does not raise the risk of prostate cancer. The prostate usually keeps growing through adult life. That makes BPH the most common prostate condition in people over 50. As it grows, it can press on the bladder and pinch the urethra. That slows or blocks urine flow.
Symptoms
Not everyone with BPH has symptoms. When they appear, they include:
- A frequent or urgent need to urinate.
- Waking up many times at night to urinate.
- Trouble starting to urinate.
- A stream that is weak, slow, or stops and starts.
- Dribbling after urinating.
- The feeling that the bladder is not completely empty.
Tell a doctor about any of these, because they can also come from a more serious problem.
Causes and who gets it
Researchers are not sure why the prostate keeps growing. Some think hormone changes with aging play a role. The chance rises with age. It is common from age 40 on, and more than 90 percent of men over 80 have it. You are also more likely to get it if family members have had BPH, if you have obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or erectile dysfunction, or if you get little exercise.
How doctors diagnose it
The doctor will ask about your health and family history, and about all medicines you take, since some make symptoms worse. The exam may include a digital rectal exam. The doctor puts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate. Tests can include urine tests, a PSA blood test, ultrasound pictures of the prostate, and cystoscopy, which uses a tiny camera to look inside the urethra and bladder. You may fill out a form that scores how much symptoms bother you.
Treatment
Not everyone needs treatment. Options depend on how much symptoms bother you, your health, your age, and prostate size.
- Lifestyle changes for mild symptoms: drink less before bedtime, cut back on caffeine and alcohol, train the bladder, exercise the muscles that control urine flow, and prevent constipation.
- Medicines: alpha-1 blockers relax the bladder neck and prostate muscles so urine flows more easily, often within days. Finasteride and dutasteride lower hormone levels in the prostate and shrink the gland, but may need months to help. Side effects can include a lower sex drive and impotence.
- Procedures and surgery: when medicines do not help enough, procedures can widen the urethra or destroy part of the prostate with heat. Surgery, most often TURP, removes prostate tissue with a tool placed into the urethra. TURP is the most common and most proven surgical treatment.
Watch out for cold and sinus medicines with decongestants or antihistamines. They can worsen symptoms.
When to see a doctor
Suddenly not being able to urinate at all is an emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room. Contact your provider right away if you have fever or chills, blood or pus in your urine, less urine than usual, or pain in your lower belly, side, or back.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can do the first evaluation, order tests, and follow symptoms over time. They can also refer you for a medical procedure or surgery when medicines do not help enough.
Common questions
Does BPH cause cancer?
No. BPH is not cancer and does not raise the risk of prostate cancer. It is a benign growth of the gland.
Can BPH be prevented?
Researchers have not found ways to prevent BPH. You can get regular checkups, talk with your doctor about your risk, and pay attention to symptoms so treatment can start early.
Do all men get it?
Prostate growth happens to almost all men as they age. More than 90 percent of men over 80 have it, and many men over 40 have some enlargement.
What happens if it is not treated?
For most people, BPH causes no other problems. But it raises the chance of sudden inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, bladder damage and stones, and kidney damage.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Enlarged Prostate (BPH) | Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- MedlinePlus - Enlarged prostate: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
