Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

The prostate is a male reproductive gland that produces fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The gland surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body. Prostate enlargement means that the prostate gland has grown in size and this happens to almost all men as they get older. As the gland grows, it usually results on pressure on the urethra and can cause urination and bladder problems.

An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. It is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk for prostate cancer.

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are experienced by about 50% of men with an enlarged prostate gland. Enlarged prostate symptoms 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

Some men with an enlarged prostste have few or no symptoms. The size of the enlarged prostate does not determine symptom severity. An enlarged prostate may be accompanied by few symptoms, while severe lower urinary tract symptoms may be present with normal or even small prostates. Lower Urinary Tract symptoms or LUTS are categorized as “voiding” or “storage”

Voiding symptoms are associated with obstruction of the urinary tract by the enlarged prostate gland. Obstruction of the Urethra is very serious and requires medical attention.

Voiding symptoms include:

A hesitation before urine flow starts despite the urgency to urinate
Straining when urinating
Weak or intermittent urinary stream
A sense that the bladder has not emptied completely
Dribbling at the end of urination or leakage afterward

Storage Symptoms are also referred to as filling symptoms and include:

An increased frequency of urination (every few hours), particularly at night
An urgent need to urinate and difficulty postponing urination
Painful or burning sensation when urinating

Severe Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

Urinary retention (inability to void) is a serious symptom of severe enlarged prostate that requires immediate medical attention. Urinary retention can be a sign of obstruction in the bladder. Bladder obstruction can cause bladder stones, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine, and incontinence.

Men experiencing any of these enlarged prostate symptoms should consult their doctor for proper medical advice and attention.

This information is brought to you by the Medical Compendium. For more information on Enlarged Prostate Signs, visit the Wikipedia website.