the prostate is a gland located below the bladder of men. it surrounds the urethra (you-reeth-rah) which is a tube that drains urine from the bladder. bph is an enlargement of the prostate gland. the symptoms of bph however can be caused by an increase in the tightness of muscles in the prostate. if the muscles inside the prostate tighten they can squeeze the urethra and slow the flow of urine. this can lead to symptoms such as: a weak or interrupted stream when urinating. a feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely. a feeling of delay when you start to urinate. a need to urinate often especially at night or a feeling that you must urinate right away. treatment options for bph there are three main treatment options for bph: program of monitoring or "watchful waiting. " some men have an enlarged prostate gland but no symptoms or symptoms that are not bothersome. if this applies you and your doctor may decide on a program of monitoring including regular check-ups instead of medication or surgery. medication. there are different kinds of medication used to treat bph. surgery. some patients may need surgery. your doctor can describe several different surgical procedures to treat bph. which procedure is best depends on your symptoms and medical condition.
what is bph?