Important Facts About Prostate Health and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

• The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that drains the urine from the bladder.



• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate. The symptoms of BPH, however, can also be caused by an increase in the tightness of muscle in the prostate.



• If the muscle in the prostate tightens, it can squeeze the urethra and slow the flow of urine. This can interfere with the flow of urine and cause a variety of uncomfortable problems when you urinate.



• There are different kinds of therapies, including surgeries and medications, that are used to treat BPH. BPH treatment options are selected based on the patient's overall medical condition, the severity of BPH symptoms, and patient preference.



• Because BPH is a very common, but treatable, condition among older men, you should be examined for the presence of BPH symptoms as a part of your yearly physical exam.