Enlarged Prostate Causes

Bel Marra Health

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. There are two prostate growth periods: one during early puberty and another around the age of 25. As it grows, the gland can press and pinch the urethra, and the bladder walls thicken. Over time, the bladder can become weaker and lose its ability to empty fully. If the urethra continues to narrow and the bladder still can’t empty, complications associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia can arise.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia does not increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer begins in the outer peripheral zone and grows outward to invade surrounding tissue. In BPH, the growth moves inward towards the prostate’s core, causing the urethra to become tighter and making it difficult to urinate.

The growth dynamics of BPH and prostate cancer determines the symptoms. BPH can have annoying symptoms, such as the inability to urinate or releasing a small amount only. Prostate cancer is referred to as a silent killer because its symptoms can take months or years to appear.

Causes of enlarged prostate

Hormonal changes that occur through aging contribute to the BPH onset. Genetics, too, can be a possible cause for BPH. The prostate continues to grow from the age of 25, but when the prostate grows too much, it can cause complications in older men.

Signs and symptoms of enlarged prostate

Signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:

• Difficulty urinating
• Constant urge to urinate
• Increased urination at night
• Weak urine stream
• Dribbling at the end of urination
• Straining while urinating
• Inability to empty bladder fully

Medical News Today

new study reveals an important molecular clue about how inflammation may lead to prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The researchers believe their discovery may also lead to ways of overcoming resistance to androgen-targeted treatment for the condition.
Enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in older men.

Enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in older men where the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous.

As the prostate gland enlarges, it presses against and pinches the urethra, the tube that allows urine to leave the bladder. Also, the bladder wall gradually thickens and the bladder may get weaker and lose the ability to empty completely.

Symptoms of BPH include increased frequency of urination, an urgent need to pee, trouble starting a urine stream, pain after urination or ejaculation, dribbling at the end of urination, and having to get up often in the night to pee.

Treatment options for BPH may include lifestyle changes, medications (such as androgen-targeted therapy), minimally invasive procedures, and surgery.

How BPH happens is still open for debate. Some evidence points to inflammation as a cause, but there is little understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The new study, led by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and published in the journal Molecular Cell, reveals a molecular mechanism involving the androgen receptor in prostate cells that may explain how BPH arises from inflammation.