All Men Will Have an Enlarged Prostate if they Live Long Enough

Enlarged prostate is not life threatening nor is it cancerous; but if left untreated, can lead to problems over time such as urinary retention (complete inability to urinate), bladder stones, urinary infections or kidney damage.

Enlarged prostate is especially common in men over the age of 40, and it is generally caused by a condition called BPH, which stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Another, more serious problem, is prostate cancer. Enlarged prostate is a common condition in which the number of prostate cells begins to grow, causing the prostate to compress the urethra. Enlarged prostate symptoms occur in more than half of all men between age 40 and 60. Enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem. It is so common that it has been said, "All men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough".

As the enlarged prostate is very common, there are no identifiable predisposing factors for this condition. Testosterone is a cause in the development of an enlarged prostate gland. In many cases, a physician will find that an enlarged prostate is the cause. As the prostate gland naturally grows, it can compress the urethra? the tube that drains urine from the body. A very certain--though invasive--way of confirming obstruction from an enlarged prostate is to pass a special viewing instrument called a cystoscope into the bladder, but this is not often necessary.

The ultimate treatment for severely enlarged prostate is surgery. Whereas most men are able to avoid this, they continue to live with discomfort for years. Treatment for an enlarged prostate is determined by your signs and symptoms and their severity. If you have significant problems, such as urinary bleeding, persistent urinary tract infections, bladder and kidney damage, your doctor will probably recommend treatment. The good news is that BPH or enlarged prostate is a manageable condition. It is important to know that BPH or enlarged prostate is not cancerous and does not lead to cancer.

BPH is not cancer and affects nearly 8 million men in the United States. In fact, more than 50 percent of men over age 60 have the condition and after age 80, men have an 80 percent chance of developing BPH. BPH is the result of gradual enlargement of the prostate. The symptoms include the need to pass urine frequently during the night, with frequency increasing as time goes on. BPH affects around 75 per cent of men over the age of 75. Beyond the age of 40 about 10 per cent of men will eventually require an operation.

BPH is caused by an estrogen-dominant ratio of estrogen to testosterone. In general, estrogen causes cells to proliferate ? including the cells in the prostate. BPH can raise PSA levels up to three times higher than the normal level. While a heightened PSA level does not indicate cancer, it may indicate a higher chance of having cancer.