According to research, 50% of all men over the age of 50 have an enlarged prostate yet, in male circles at least, it’s hardly ever talked about. Moreover, the likelihood of getting it increases with age so by the time a man is 80, he is 90% likely to have the condition.
The prostate is a gland that sits just below the bladder in front of the rectum and its primary task is to produce the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. As such, it’s an integral part of the male reproductive system. While every man’s prostate will grow throughout life, some men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (the medical term for an enlarged prostate) might experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- The feeling of a constantly full bladder (even after urinating)
- The need or urge to pee frequently
- A weakened or interrupted stream
- The need to push or strain during urination
- Painful urination or ejaculation
- Dribbling, or
- An urgent need to go that comes out of nowhere.
If you can relate to any of the above, then chances are you’ve put these symptoms down to ‘growing old’. The truth is that this isn’t normal, or at least, it doesn’t have to be. And while the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) aren’t likely to disappear on their own, the good news is that many treatments can help. So while an enlarged prostate may be an uncomfortable subject, it becomes easier to talk about once you know more about it.
With this in mind, here are ten interesting facts about an enlarged prostate that may surprise you.
- Having an enlarged prostate is not the same as having prostate cancer. They are in no way related. Moreover, having BPH does not increase the likelihood of getting prostate cancer either. You can, however, have an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer at the same time as they frequently coexist but are classed as completely separate conditions with different treatments and outcomes.
- The prostate has two growth phases. The first phase occurs in early puberty when the prostate grows to the size of a walnut. The second occurs during a male’s mid-20s and continues to grow throughout the remainder of a man’s life. Enlarged prostate problems almost always occur during this second phase of growth.
- Most men will develop an enlarged prostate, but only one in four men aged 51-60, and less than half of those aged 70 and over, will experience symptoms. In many cases, an enlarged prostate is asymptomatic.
- The cause of an enlarged prostate remains unknown. However, it’s been suggested that growth may be linked to changes in testosterone levels as we age. Cell changes, particularly in the testicles may also play their part as men who have had one or more of their testicles removed due to testicular cancer, do not develop BPH.
- Prostate size does not determine the severity. In other words, someone with an extremely enlarged prostate is no more guaranteed to develop multiple symptoms than someone with a lesser enlarged prostate. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for men with exceptionally large prostates to have no symptoms at all while, others with smaller prostates may experience numerous symptom-related issues.
- Although the cause of BPH is yet to be explained, it’s suggested that being severely overweight (morbidly obese) and/or having a family history of an enlarged prostate may increase the risk of developing the problem. Conversely, a healthy lifestyle and diet are also thought to decrease the risk of BPH.
- Diet can also play its part in shrinking an enlarged prostate as it’s suggested that natural remedies such as soy, green tea, grass pollen and saw palmetto can all help to decrease the size of a prostate over time: If you need more proof, Chinese men eat approximately 64% more soy than Western men, yet China reports to have 56% fewer reported cases of BPH than Europe or the US.
- Contrary to popular belief, not all treatments for an enlarged prostate affect sex drive. For example, the anti-testosterone drug Finasteride, often prescribed for BPH, is linked to erectile dysfunction in just 7% of men who use it whereas other ground-breaking treatments like prostate artery embolization have no adverse effects on erectile dysfunction at all.
- BPH can be treated in many ways. Among those are: medication and lifestyle changes, surgical removal of part of the prostate (TURP), laser therapy, water or steam ablation, prostatic urethral lift (PUL) implants, and prostate artery embolization (PAE).
- While not a serious concern in itself, symptoms of BPH can worsen over time and may trigger other problems like a thickening of the bladder wall, urinary retention, severe bladder infections and eventually, kidney failure.
So there you have it, ten interesting facts about enlarged prostates that may surprise you. The key, of course, is to seek assistance early on as soon as you notice any changes in your bathroom habits or any discomfort when you urinate.
At the Midwest Institute of Non-Surgical Therapy (MINT), we have dedicated prostate centers where patients can come and be tested for the condition. But also, we provide minimally invasive, outpatient treatments like prostate artery embolization that reduces the size of a prostate by over 40% within a few months.
Want to know more? Schedule an appointment at a MINT clinic near you!
