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Non-Symptomatic Enlarged Prostate or BPH

An enlarged prostate is virtually guaranteed in men as they age. Indeed, 90% of men over 80 have an enlarged prostate. However, this does not necessarily mean that treatment will be indicated or required. It’s a strange reality, but the symptoms of BPH do not necessarily correlate with the degree of prostatic enlargement – some men may have significant growth and few symptoms and vice versa. Ultimately, the treatment plan will largely rest on the degree of disruption to the patient’s life and the potential, if any of urinary retention or urethral blockage.

In fact, about half of all men may never feel the effects of an enlarged prostate, which can include weak stream, urinary incontinence, nocturia and more. For those lucky ones among us, the most likely course of action is watchful waiting – a heightened state of alert. Should the prostatic enlargement ever become a symptomatic issue, it is more likely to be identified early, offering the greatest number of treatment options possible.

Of course, if a patient is diagnosed with an enlarged prostate – symptomatic or not – they should seek the opinion of a urologist right away. While BPH itself is not a life threatening disease, prostatic enlargement can be a sign of other more dangerous diseases such as prostate cancer or prostatitis (infection). Further, regular check-ups to ensure that prostatic tissue growth isn’t causing urinary issues is always a good thing.

You can search for a urologist in your area by using our convenient urologist finder.