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Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that causes Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to enlarge the prostate. This occurs in in nearly all men as a result of aging, though genetics will determine if the prostate’s growth becomes a problem.
Dihydrotestosterone is a male sex hormone that plays many important roles in both the male and female physiology. One of DHT’s responsibilities is to act as a growth hormone, and as such, it is largely responsible for regulating muscle mass, bone density, and, in men, triggering the prostate to grow.
As good as DHT is at stimulating growth, it unfortunately has no way to turn itself “off”. This means a male’s prostate never can never stop growing over the years. While is not a problem for most males, others can have experience complications from an enlarged prostate that range from mild to extreme.
It is important to note that BPH itself is not necessarily a harmful condition, hence the word “benign” in the phrase. For some males, however, the prostate continues to grow too large, and can cause the following complications:
BPH may be a problem if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Your doctor will ask questions about your ability to urinate that will help determine the condition of your prostate. Your doctor may also digitally examine the prostate itself or run tests on your urine. The doctor may also test for an antigen made by the prostate to rule out prostate cancer, which BPH can sometimes mimic.
Many can control the severity of their symptoms through medicine. Common brands include:
The symptoms will become severe again if medication is discontinued. In extreme cases, the doctor may perform surgery to reduce the prostate gland to a more manageable size.
You may be able to reduce your chances of BPH if you:
