Most men experience prostate gland enlargement leading to prostate cancer as they age. This is a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
The prostate gland is underneath the bladder. When it gets bigger, it can block the flow of urine through the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.
This can cause problems with urination. Mayo Clinic experts theorize that the prostate gland grows as men age as a result of changes in hormonal balance. If you don’t get treatment for it, BPH can cause bladder, urinary tract, or kidney problems.
These are the signs and symptoms of BPH
1. A frequent or urgent need to urinate
Many men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) will feel the need to urinate frequently, especially at night. This is a condition called nocturia. Frequent urination is defined by the National Institutes of Health as having to urinate eight or more times per day. Sometimes, this need to urinate may be urgent. An enlarged prostate gland puts increased pressure on the urethra and bladder, which results in an inability to hold in your urine.
2. Difficulty urinating
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) can make the act of urinating difficult. Increased pressure on the urethra can block the flow of urine from the bladder out through the penis. This can make it hard to start a urine stream, and it can cause a weak or interrupted urine stream, especially at the end of urination. This is sometimes referred to as urine dribbling.
3. Pain during urination or ejaculation
The pressure on your reproductive system and urinary tract from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) can result in pain during urination or ejaculation. Some men feel the need to push urine out during urination, which can also cause pain. Pain during urination or ejaculation may also occur due to infection, which is a relatively common complication of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
4. Urine with blood or an unusual colour or smell
Urinary retention can cause urine to take on a darker colour and unusual smell. Foul-smelling urine is typically a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Blood in the urine, or hematuria, can occur as a result of the dilated veins on the surface of an enlarged prostate gland. Visible blood in the urine is called gross hematuria.
5. Urinary retention
If you cannot pass any urine, it’s important to seek immediate medical care. Your doctor will have to insert a tube known as a catheter into your bladder to drain the urine. Depending on the severity of your Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), your doctor may recommend surgery to remove some of your enlarged prostate tissue or to make cuts in your prostate to widen the urethra.
6. Urinary tract infections
The inability to fully empty urine out of the bladder can cause bacteria to grow in the bladder. This can lead to UTIs. These infections may cause the urine to darken or result in foul-smelling or bloody urine. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove part of the prostate if you have frequent UTIs
7. Bladder stones
Bladder stones, like UTIs, usually occur due to an inability to empty the bladder completely, which is one of the main symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Bladder stones are hard lumps of minerals in the bladder that form when urine in the bladder becomes highly concentrated. This causes the minerals in the urine to crystallize. These stones can cause:
- Severe infections
- Blood in the urine
- Bladder irritation
- A blockage of urine flow
8. Bladder and kidney damage
The bladder may stretch and weaken if it cannot empty completely. This can cause the muscular wall of the bladder to lose its ability to contract normally, making it more difficult to empty the bladder completely. Urinary retention due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) can also put pressure on the bladder, damaging the kidneys. Additionally, infections that start in the bladder may spread to your kidneys, causing damage.
BPH can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications, but you can avoid or minimize the symptoms and damage to your bladder and kidneys if you get treatment early.
