Enlarged Prostate, or BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is simply an enlarged prostate gland. As a man ages, his prostate will go through two phases of growth. The first phase occurs during puberty, and the prostate will double in size during this time. The second growth phase begins in the mid-twenties, continuing during his adult life. Your prostate gland may grow larger as you grow older. BPH tends to develop during the second phase of growth. When your prostate gland grows larger, it may put pressure on your urethra. The wall of your bladder may also become thicker. At some point, your bladder may weaken to the point that it is unable to empty completely. BPH is not a cancerous condition and will not cause or lead to cancer. However, cancer and BPH can occur simultaneously.
BPH Symptoms The severity of BPH symptoms in men may vary, but they often grow worse with time. Some BPH symptoms are an increase in urination frequency or a strong urge to urinate. Other symptoms include difficulty urinating or a weak urine stream.