Enlarged Prostate: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Enlarged Prostate?
A urologist, a doctor who treats problems of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system, usually treats an enlarged prostate. It is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is an enlarged prostate?
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder and makes fluid that is part of semen. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.
An enlarged prostate is a prostate gland that has grown larger than normal. Another name is benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. BPH is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk of prostate cancer.
As the prostate gets bigger, it may press against the bladder and pinch the urethra. This can slow or block the flow of urine.
Symptoms
Fewer than half of men with BPH have symptoms. When symptoms happen, they can include:
- A frequent or urgent need to urinate.
- Waking up many times at night to urinate.
- Trouble starting to urinate.
- A weak, slow, or stop-and-start urine stream.
- Dribbling after you urinate.
- A feeling that your bladder is not completely empty.
BPH raises your chance of urinary tract infections, bladder damage and stones, and kidney damage. It can also cause acute urinary retention, which means you suddenly cannot urinate at all. This is a medical emergency.
Causes and who gets it
Researchers are not sure why the prostate keeps growing. Some think changes in hormones with aging may cause it. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older.
You are more likely to develop BPH if you are age 40 or older or have family members who had BPH. Obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and too little physical activity also raise the chance.
How doctors diagnose it
Your provider will ask about your medical history, your family history, and all the medicines you take. The exam may include a digital rectal exam. The provider puts a gloved finger into your rectum to check whether your prostate is large, tender, or irregular.
You may also have tests, such as:
- Urine tests, to check for blood or infection.
- A PSA blood test. PSA means prostate-specific antigen. It is used to screen for prostate cancer.
- A urine flow rate test, and a test of how much urine is left in your bladder after you urinate.
- Cystoscopy, to look inside the urethra and bladder.
- Ultrasound pictures of the prostate and urinary tract.
Treatment
Not everyone needs treatment. The choice depends on how much your symptoms bother you, your health, your age, and the size of your prostate. If you have BPH, you should have a yearly assessment to check your symptoms and see whether your treatment needs to change.
For mild symptoms, these steps may help:
- Urinate when you first get the urge.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.
- Try bladder training and exercises for the muscles that control urine flow.
Medicines can help mild to moderate symptoms. Alpha-1 blockers relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate, so urine flows more easily. Finasteride and dutasteride lower hormone levels and shrink the gland. Possible side effects include a lower sex drive and trouble with erections. Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
Medical procedures can help moderate to severe symptoms when medicines do not help enough. They use an instrument placed in the urethra to widen it or to destroy part of the prostate with heat. People who have these procedures are more likely to need surgery again after 5 or 10 years.
Surgery may help when symptoms are severe or other treatments have not helped. The most common and most proven surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. A scope is passed through the penis, and the prostate is removed piece by piece.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider right away if you have less urine than usual, fever or chills, back, side, or belly pain, or blood or pus in your urine.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you suddenly cannot urinate at all. This is called acute urinary retention, and it is a medical emergency.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either type of doctor can review your symptoms and medicines, order urine and blood tests, and refer you to a urologist. They can also help track your symptoms over time.
Common questions
Is an enlarged prostate cancer?
No. An enlarged prostate, or BPH, is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk of prostate cancer. Your provider may do a PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer.
Does an enlarged prostate always need treatment?
No. Not everyone needs treatment for BPH. Treatment depends on how much your symptoms bother you, your health, your age, and the size of your prostate.
Can an enlarged prostate be prevented?
No, researchers have not found a way to prevent BPH. You can take care of your prostate health by getting regular checkups.
Can some medicines make BPH symptoms worse?
Yes. Decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, and certain antidepressants can make symptoms worse. Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
