Enlarged prostate - what to ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor about enlarged prostate; Benign prostatic hypertrophy - what to ask your doctor; BPH - what to ask your doctor
The prostate gland often grows larger as men get older. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate may cause you problems with urinating.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider about your prostate.
The prostate is a male gland located underneath the bladder and is about the size of a chestnut. In this cut section, you can see that part of the urethra is encased within the prostate gland. As a man ages, the prostate typically enlarges in size in a process called BPH, which means that the gland gets larger without becoming cancerous. The enlarged prostate crowds its anatomical neighbors, particularly the urethra, causing it to narrow. The narrowed urethra results in several of the symptoms of BPH. Symptoms may include a slowed or delayed start in urination, the need to urinate frequently during the night, difficulty in emptying the bladder, a strong, sudden urge to urinate, and incontinence. Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, or their symptoms are minor and do not restrict their life style. BPH is a normal physiological process of aging. Treatment options are available and are based on the severity of the symptoms, the extent to which they affect lifestyle, and the presence of other medical conditions. Men with BPH should consult with their physician yearly to monitor the progression of the symptoms and decide the best course of treatment as needed.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, commonly found in men over the age of 50.
Questions
What is the prostate gland?
Where is it in my body?
What does the prostate gland do?
What causes the prostate gland to enlarge?
Do many other men have prostate problems?
How do I know my problem is not prostate cancer?
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
Will these symptoms get worse? How quickly?
Can any of these symptoms be harmful or dangerous?
What tests should I have?
How can I treat my symptoms at home?
Is it OK to drink alcohol? How about coffee and other drinks with caffeine?
How much fluid should I drink during the day?
Are there medicines that may make my symptoms worse?
Are there exercises that can help with my symptoms?
What can I do so that I do not wake up at night as much?
I have heard there are different herbs and supplements that may improve my symptoms? Is this true? Are these herbs or supplements safe to use?
What medicines may help?
Are there different types? How are they different?
Will they make my symptoms go away completely?
Does their benefit wear off over time?
What side effects should I look for?
What should I do if I am having a hard time urinating?
Questions to ask when thinking about having surgery for an enlarged prostate:
- Have I tried all the different safe treatments and medicines that may help?
- How quickly will my symptoms get worse if I do not have surgery?
- What are the serious medical problems that can happen if I do not have surgery?
- If I do not have surgery now, does that make having surgery later less effective or more dangerous?
What are the different types of surgery that I can have?
- Are there surgeries that are better for my situation?
- Will I ever need another surgery for a large prostate? Does one kind of surgery help for longer?
- What are the side effects of the different surgeries? Is one surgery more likely to cause problems with erections? With urinary incontinence? With ejaculation?
- Do I need to stay in the hospital after the surgeries? How long will it take to recover?
- Is there anything I can do before surgery to make recovery easier?
References
Capogrosso P, Salonia A, Montorsi F. Evaluation and nonsurgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 150.
Kaplan SA. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 114.
Moul JW, Gridley CM. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Kellerman RD, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2025. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:1233-1236.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 4/1/2025
Reviewed by: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
