PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT

Benign prostate enlargement (BPE), also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a condition that affects older men.

It's particularly common in men over 30 years of age and usually a serious threat to health.

Prostate gland

The prostate is a small gland found only in men, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder. It's involved in the production of semen.

The prostate produces a thick, white fluid that's made into a thinner liquid by a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The liquid is then mixed with sperm, produced by the testicles, to create semen.

If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and urethra (the tube through which urine passes). This can affect how you pass urine and may cause:

• difficulty starting urination
• a frequent need to urinate
• difficulty fully emptying the bladder

In some men, the symptoms are mild and don't require treatment. In others, the symptoms can be very troublesome and have a major impact on a person's quality of life.