Benign Prostate Enlargement

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland caused by hyperplasia of stromal and epithelial cells, predominantly affecting the transitional and periurethral zones, with prevalence increasing significantly with age from 50% in men over 50 years to 90% in those over 80 years. The condition causes both obstructive symptoms such as hesitancy, weak stream, and incomplete emptying due to urethral compression, as well as irritative symptoms including frequency, urgency, and nocturia from detrusor overactivity, potentially leading to serious complications like acute urinary retention, recurrent UTIs, bladder stones, and hydronephrosis if left untreated. Medical students must understand BPH because it represents one of the most common conditions affecting aging men, requires differentiation from prostate cancer through PSA testing and clinical evaluation, and offers multiple management pathways ranging from watchful waiting and medical therapy with alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to surgical interventions like TURP depending on symptom severity and gland size.