Enlarged Prostate: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

When the enlarged prostate, a common condition in older men where the prostate gland grows larger and presses on the urethra. Also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it doesn’t mean cancer—but it can make everyday life frustrating. You might find yourself waking up three times a night to pee, struggling to start urinating, or feeling like you never fully empty your bladder. This isn’t just aging—it’s a physical change that affects over half of men by age 60 and nearly 90% by 80.

The prostate, a walnut-sized gland below the bladder that helps produce semen grows slowly over time, often due to hormonal shifts. Testosterone and its byproduct DHT drive this growth, even as overall hormone levels drop. That’s why younger men rarely have symptoms, but by your 50s or 60s, the pressure on the urethra becomes noticeable. Urinary symptoms, like weak stream, urgency, or nighttime trips to the bathroom are the red flags. Some men also feel pain or burning, though that’s less common and could point to infection.

What helps? Prostate medication, like alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride) can relax muscles or shrink the gland over time. Many men see big improvements without surgery. Lifestyle tweaks matter too—cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, avoiding large drinks before bed, and staying active can reduce symptoms. If meds don’t cut it, minimally invasive procedures like UroLift or Rezum are now common alternatives to traditional surgery.

You won’t find every treatment option here, but you’ll see real comparisons of what works—and what doesn’t. From drug side effects to natural approaches people try, the posts below cover what men actually experience. Whether you’re just noticing changes or have been living with this for years, there’s practical info here to help you make smarter choices with your doctor.