Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common disorders affecting men as they grow older. Men face the decision of whether to hassle with the side effects of an enlarged prostate or undergo surgery to eliminate the condition and possible serious complications.
Understanding the Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis, just in front of the rectum. It is part of the male reproductive system and has the job of producing the fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen during ejaculation. The prostate also surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that urine flows through from the bladder to the penis.
Most men don’t give their prostate a second thought until around midlife, when it may begin to grow and become enlarged, which is known as BPH. This disorder affects 50 percent of men in their 50s, and by the time men reach their 70s, 80s, or older, as many as 90 percent can be affected by BPH.
When the prostate swells it presses on the urethra, blocking urine flow. When this happens, a man will experience certain symptoms that get his attention. One of the more common symptoms is the need to urinate often, sometimes as frequently as every one to two hours, especially at night.
