BPH FAQ

BPH Made Simple: Quick Facts

Q. What is a prostate?

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped organ, located below your bladder and in front of the rectum. Its main function is to produce fluids in your semen and to force semen through your urethra when you ejaculate.

The urethra - a tube through that carries both urine and semenout of the body - runs through the center of your prostate.

Illustrative material showing the location of the prostate

Q. What is BPH?

The prostate is a gland that plays an essential role in sexual function. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, occurs when the prostate grows larger than normal and begins causing urinary issues.

While BPH is not prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate can constrict the urethra, making urination difficult, and can put pressure on the bladder, leading to incomplete emptying and weakened bladder control.

Normal prostate

Normal urethra

Urine

Bladder

Normal prostate

Normal urethra

Enlarged prostate

Compressed urethra

Bladder

Enlarged prostate

Compressed urethra

Urine

Q. What are the risks of untreated BPH?

If untreated, BPH can cause serious health problems. As the prostate grows, it can cause permanent damage to the bladder or kidneys.

Additional complications include bladder stones and incontinence, which can significantly impact quality of life by limiting urinary control and requiring frequent trips to the bathroom.

Q. What causes BPH?

The exact cause of an enlarged prostate is unknown. However, prostate growth generally occurs in two stages:

During puberty

The prostate doubles in size to about the size of a walnut and then stops growing.

Around age 25

The prostate begins to grow slowly throughout a man's life.

Q. How common is BPH?

BPH is a common part of aging for many men.

Worldwide, approximately 94 million men are actively managing BPH.

In the U.S., BPH affects,

50%

of men in 50s

60%

of men in 60s

70%

of men in 70s

In 2023, over 14 million men in the U.S. were diagnosed with BPH.

Q. How does BPH affect quality of life?

BPH symptoms can impact daily life by disrupted sleep, limiting social activities, and creating challenges in relationships and work.

Some men experience reduced sexual function and feeling of embarrassment or frustration. Studies show that 22.4% of BPH patients report depressive symptoms—20.8% with mild symptoms and 1.6% with moderate to severe symptoms.

Depressive symptoms were present in 22.4% of patients. 20.8% mild, 1.6% moderate/severe

A study involving 4,035 men (average age 65 ± 8 years) diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) assessed the relationship between depressive symptoms, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Q. What are the signs and symptoms of BPH?

BPH symptoms known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), affect the bladder, prostate, and urethra. These symptoms make it difficult to hold or pass urine and can be categorized as follows:

1. The ability to hold urine is decreased:

Urgency: A sudden need to pass urine immediately.
Nocturia: Frequently waking up during the night to urinate.
Frequency: An increased need to urinate more often than usual.
Intermittency: A stream of urine that starts and stops.

2. Bladder emptying is difficult:

Straining: Having to push or strain to urinate.
Retention: Complete loss of the ability to empty the bladder.
Hesitancy: Difficulty starting to urinate.
Weak stream: Reduced urine stream strength.
Dysuria: Pain or burning during urination.
Incontinence: Loss of the ability to hold urine.

Q. How common is LUTS in men with BPH?

Approximately 30% of men over the age of 50 will experience moderate to severe LUTS. By age 85, up to 90% of men are likely to experience these symptoms.

Q. How to diagnose BPH?

The diagnosis of BPH begins with a visit to your healthcare provider.

The diagnostic process includes:

Bladder diary: 3 days record of urinary frequency and patterns.
Uroflowmetry: A urine flow test to assess how well the urinary tract is functioning by measuring the speed and volume of urination.

This test often requires a visit to the clinic and can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing, as it involves urinating into a funnel-shaped device specifically designed to capture and measure flow.

Q. What is the proudP app?

The proudP is an at-home urine flow test app that allows you to measure BPH symptoms at home without the need for a clinic visit.

It analyzes the sound of urination and automatically records data, to provide real-time results. proudP is an FDA Class II medical device application, trusted and used by urologists.

Q. What are the main features of proudP?

The proudP includes several useful features:

Home urine flow test: Use the app directly in the bathroom without needing any additional tools.
Instant results: Displays results as OK, Fair, Weak, or Very Weak.
Bladder diary: Track your urinary patterns effortlessly.
International prostate symptom score (IPSS): A simple assessment of symptom severity.
Free to download: Available on app stores for easy installation.

Install proudP today and get a free test to gain insight into your symptoms!

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

Q. What are the treatment options for BPH?

BPH treatment varies depending on the symptoms and individual needs:

Lifestyle changes: Adjustments such as limiting caffeine, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding certain medications.
Medications: Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to relax prostate muscles and reduce prostate size.
Surgical options: Procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) may be recommended if medications are ineffective or symptoms are severe.

With proudP, complete the essential procedures from a first clinic visit all from the comfort of home - IPSS, uroflowmetry, and a 72-hour bladder diary. Then decide for yourself if a clinic visit is needed.

Q. What could be the common underlying conditions of urinary symptoms?

Urinary issues can be caused by various underlying conditions. Some common ones include:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Infections in the bladder, kidneys, or urethra that cause pain, frequent urination, or burning sensations.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): An enlarged prostate in men that can block urine flow and cause difficulty urinating.
Kidney Stones: Hard deposits of minerals in the kidneys that can cause pain, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine.
Overactive Bladder: A condition that causes a sudden, strong urge to urinate and frequent urination, sometimes with incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence: Loss of bladder control, leading to accidental leakage of urine.
Bladder Cancer: A type of cancer that can cause blood in the urine or difficulty urinating.
Interstitial Cystitis: A chronic condition causing bladder pressure, pain, and frequent urination.
Neurological Conditions: Diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries that affect nerve function and disrupt bladder control.
Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate, often causing pain, difficulty urinating, or discomfort in the pelvic area.
Urinary Retention: The inability to fully empty the bladder, often due to blockages, nerve damage, or medications.

These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, from discomfort and pain to more serious issues like blood in the urine or incontinence. If urinary issues persist, it's important to consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.