What are the symptoms?
Benign enlargement of the prostate affects many men when they become older. The problems vary, but typical problems are difficulty in starting the flow of urine and that the urine stream becomes progressively weaker. This means that you need to strain and push to empty the bladder, as the urethra becomes compressed. At the same time a need to urinate is felt more often and it is difficult to wait to urinate. It can be difficult to empty the bladder completely. The side effects of many medications can make the problem worse. The problems of BPH become gradually worse, often over several years. The intensity of the problem varies and can almost disappear for a time, only to return. If you experience symptoms that develop quickly you should immediately contact a doctor.
The typical symptoms are that you:
- have difficulty starting the flow of urine
- need to empty your bladder more often (less than 2 hours between toilet visits)
- cannot wait to urinate but have to go immediately
- feel that your bladder does not empty completely when you urinate
- have a very weak urine flow – need to strain to urinate
- when you urinate the flow stops and starts
- need to get up during the night to urinate
- experience residual drops after urinating
Your problems may not be caused by an enlarged prostate. In younger men it is more common for problems to be due to an inflammation of the prostate gland, prostatitis. Bladder control becomes weaker with age. A weak or stiff bladder (old man’s bladder) can give the same symptoms as BPH. Neurological diseases or injuries such as cerebral haemorrhage can result in similar problems. There can also be other causes such as scar tissue formation at the bladder neck.
Are you unsure?
Here is a test with seven questions that you can answer to find out more. You will see the answer directly and this indicates how severe your problem is. Answer all of the questions. Choose the alternative in each case that you believe best describes you.