as a man ages the prostate can grow larger. when a man reaches the age of 40 the prostate gland might have increased from the size of a walnut to that of an apricot. by the time he reaches the age of 60 it might be the size of a lemon. because it surrounds part of the urethra the enlarged prostate can squeeze the urethra. this causes problems in the passing of urine. typically these problems passing urine don't occur in men until they are age 50 or older. they can though occur earlier. an enlarged prostate is also called benign (noncancerous) prostatic hyperplasia or bph. it is common and cannot be prevented. age and a family history of bph are risk factors. eight out of every 10 men eventually develop an enlarged prostate. about 90% of men over the age of 85 will have bph. about 30% of men will find their symptoms bothersome. symptoms of an enlarged prostate may include: trouble starting to urinate or urinating freely. having to urinate frequently particularly at night. feeling that the bladder is not empty after urinating. feeling a sudden urge to urinate. having to stop and start repeatedly while urinating. having to strain to urinate. to maintain prostate health it is important for men who have early symptoms of bph to see their doctor. bph is a progressive disease. it can lead to serious although rare health problems such as kidney or bladder damage.
what are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?