By age 70, almost all men have some enlargement of the prostate. If the prostate grows too large, it may press against the urethra and make the flow of urine weaker or slower.

An increase in the size of the prostate or a change in urine flow does not necessarily mean you have cancer; you may have a different condition such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

BPH is not cancer and has not been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer. However, both conditions can exist together.

BPH is the enlargement of the prostate, frequently occurring in men over the age of 50. The enlargement can result in a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which can cause symptoms such as:

• A weak urinary stream
• Difficulty starting urination
• Frequent urination
• Frequently awakening at night to urinate
• Sensations of incomplete emptying after urination
• Inability to urinate

Unless symptoms are troubling, an enlarged prostate is not reason enough to consider treatment. Doctors may decide on watchful waiting, in which the patient is examined periodically to check the status of his prostate. Sometimes symptoms may lessen without active treatment. However, if symptoms from BPH are bothersome or are severely affecting the urinary tract, treatment may be required.

BPH can be treated with medications, nonsurgical procedures that use heat to destroy excess tissue, or surgery. Surgical procedures to treat BPH do not remove the entire prostate; they only remove enough tissue to relieve the blockage that affects urination.

If you have BPH, be sure to discuss with your physician any symptoms you may be experiencing and any questions you may have on treating BPH.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. Here are some of the main classifications of prostatitis:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis – sudden infection of the prostate gland, caused by bacteria. Symptoms may include fever and chills, pain in lower back or rectum, and/or urinary symptoms.
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis – the prostate gets inflamed over and over again. Symptoms may be similar but milder than acute prostatitis, and can last longer.
• Nonbacterial prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate for which the cause of the inflammation cannot be found.

Prostatitis is one of the more common urologic diagnoses, accounting for up to 25% of all urological office visits by young and middle aged men.

Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis is routinely treated with antibiotics. For nonbacterial prostatitis, medications are used to reduce the difficulty in urination and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for pain. Lifestyle changes, including diet and stress management, may be suggested.

Be sure to discuss with your physician any symptoms you may be experiencing and any questions you may have on treating prostatitis.