benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph) is an enlarged prostate gland. the prostate gland surrounds the urethra the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. as the prostate gets bigger it may squeeze or partly block the urethra. this often causes problems urinating. bph occurs in almost all men as they age. bph is not cancer. an enlarged prostate can be a nuisance but it is usually not a serious problem. about half of all men older than 75 have some symptoms. 1 benign prostatic hyperplasia is also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what is benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph)?