Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is also known as enlarged prostate. According to the National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearinghouse, the most common prostate problem for men over 50 years old is prostate enlargement. By age 60, over half of the male population has BPH, and by age 85, the number climbs to 90%.

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include the need to get up at night from the bed to urinate as well as possible slowness or dribbling of the urinary stream. Other telltale signs of prostate enlargement can be difficulty starting to urinate, frequent urination or the feeling of urgency or a sudden need to urinate. As symptoms progress, a man may develop bladder stones, bladder infections, blood in the urine, damage to the kidneys, or sudden blockage of the urinary tube, making urination impossible.

An enlarged prostate is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that blocks the flow of urine through the urethra. As the urethra narrows, the bladder has to contract more forcefully to push urine through the body. Over time, the bladder muscle may gradually become overly sensitive and contracts even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing a need to urinate frequently. Eventually, the bladder muscle cannot overcome the effect of the narrowed urethra so urine remains in the bladder and it is not completely emptied. When the bladder does not empty completely, the individual is at risk for developing urinary tract infections and other serious problems can also develop over time.