- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cause and symptoms

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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cause and symptoms

BPH is an age-related non-malignant growth of the prostate that will affect nearly every man at some point after the age of 40 years. Nine out of ten men over the age of 85 years are diagnosed with BPH. Due to altering hormone levels with increasing age the balance between cell proliferation and cell death is no longer maintained, which causes the prostate to enlarge. This enlargement initially results in microscopic nodules that continuously grow in volume and mass. The abnormal growth is generally located in the transition zone, which surrounds the urethra. As a consequence, BPH often causes lower urinary tract symptoms that begin to appear as reduced urinary stream, nocturia, urinary retention, urgency, frequency and dribbling. BPH is commonly treated with surgical and pharmacological therapies.

Review Date: 7/5/2013
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