Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or Hypertrophy

The condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is a condition that affects men in the middle age or above. BPH is swelling of the prostatic gland because of prostatic cancer or benign tumor. The diagnostic of benign prostate hyperplasia can be made by the sufferer itself or the physician.

The prostate gland grows wrapped around the upper portion of the urethra and sometimes it swells and causes negative side effects on the body.  The other name of benign prostatic hyperplasia is benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Some of the symptoms of benign hyperplasia are involuntary urination, difficulty urination, weak stream, painful urination and sometimes even complete inability to urinate. This condition is very uncomfortable and harmful in the ability of properly working and a healthy urinary system.

The contemporary medicine still does not know what cause benign prostatic hyperplasia.The scientific studies conducted have not been able to locate specific risk factors and causes and thus make it hard or impossible to prevent BPH through the lifestyle, diet or exercise changes.

It has been known from long ago that people who suffer from BPH and there is a link between the male hormones and aging and growth of the prostate gland.

Throughout their lives men mainly produce their male hormone testosterone and a small amount of the female hormone estrogen.

The natural side-effect of aging is the amount of testosterone active in the bloodstream diminishes. This minimizes the ration between the testosterone and estrogen and the increased estrogen in the blood could be of significance of the stimulating growth of the prostate gland later in life.

Another reason for benign prostatic hyperplasia is the increase in the levels of dihydrotestosterone . This substance is derived of testosterone and has important part in the regulation of the prostate growth. In nature when animals get older they stop producing dihydrotestosterone .

But in humans even when the testosterone levels diminish during the aging process, men’s body are still able to produce high levels of dihydrotestosterone in the prostate gland.

Researchers have found out that high levels of this hormone promotes cell growth in the prostate and for men who do not produce dihydrotestosterone it is known not to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia.

A small surgical operation is the treatment to correct the BPH. It is known as transurethral resection of the prostate and represents removal of portion of the prostate gland in order to relieve the pressure on the urethra and to restore the proper urine flow.

After the surgery patients will stay in the hospital for one or two days just for observation.

The side effects of the surgery treatment are frequent urination because of the swelling and strenuous activities as well as sexual intercourse have to be avoided for a period of six weeks. After that period of time there should be no side effects.

BPH can also be corrected with operation and it is known as less severe cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It can be treated with some medications and massage therapy.

Some men will develop BPH during their lifetime. That is why it is good to do regular prostate exams and knowledge of the BPH’s symptoms. They can lead to early recognition and diagnosis of the benign prostatic hyperplasia.