Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: A Chronic Need To Urinate During The Night May Be One OF The First Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: A Chronic Need To Urinate During The Night May Be One OF The First Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate. Today, as many as 50 percent of all Australian men over 60 suffer from an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). While the prostate gland naturally grows as men age, BPH can lead to severe and often painful complications as the prostate slowly compresses the urethra disrupting urinary flow.

The prostate gland is roughly the size of a walnut in a young male. It sits in front of the rectum and below the bladder and is an integral part of the male reproductive system. The prostate gland undergoes two primary growth stages during a man’s lifetime. During puberty, the gland will double in size and then again, around age 25, it will begin a further growth spurt.

It is this latter stage that is thought to be responsible for the problems associated with an enlarged prostate. More specifically, because the prostate gland wraps around the urethra, which controls the flow of urine from the bladder, when it expands, it impedes normal urination or ejaculation. While BPH is not cancerous, the results can still be very painful and often frightening.

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: There are several warning signs and symptoms every male over 45 should be aware of. The degree and frequency of these symptoms may vary among individuals and in some cases, symptoms may not even present until the prostate gland is severely enlarged. It is very important for men over 45 therefore, to have a yearly check up.

As the prostate enlarges, one study shows that 63 percent of men begin to feel a need to urinate more often, especially during the night . Sleep eventually becomes disturbed as the need to urinate increases, a condition known as nocturia. The same study reveals 46 percent of sufferers experience a significant increase in daytime frequency of urination.

BPH may also cause a sense of urgency in 18 percent of cases, resulting in a need to urinate right away and often leading to an involuntary urinary discharge. According to the same study, approximately 13 percent of men with BPH experience difficulty going to the bathroom, a condition often referred to as hesitancy. Despite the bladder feeling full, the urinary flow can become blocked by the enlarging prostate gland.

When urine eventually begins to flow however, it may be weak or intermittent in 18 percent of sufferers according to researchers. Studies further show that 23 percent of men diagnosed with BPH report it can take several attempts to empty their bladder. Men suffering from BPH often report feeling as though the bladder is never completely empty even though they may have recently urinated.

This sensation contributes to the need to urinate more often. Another complaint associated with an enlarged prostate is uncontrolled dribbling after urination. This leakage can often occur between urinating, especially during sleep.

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: Many symptoms are quite painful. Men suffering from BPH can experience a burning sensation or pain when they urinate. Bloody urine is quite common since BPH can cause tiny blood vessels to burst. BPH can also cause an itchy sensation in the penis and or pain in the testes or groin area and stiffness in the lower back, hips and thighs. This condition can make sitting very uncomfortable in more severe cases.

As the prostate enlarges, it can interfere with sexual functioning such as difficulty getting an erection or impotence in some cases. Because the urethra also carries semen, BPH can cause pain during sex or upon ejaculation. Often men suffering from an enlarged prostate experience a decrease in sexual desire.

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: Over all, studies reveal that 23 percent of men experience moderate to severe symptoms of BPH. In up to 2 percent of men suffering from BPH however, symptoms can progress to the point where urination becomes impossible, a condition known as acute retention. If left untreated, acute retention is extremely painful and can lead to irreversible kidney damage among other things.

Chronic retention can also become a problem for men as they find it harder and harder to empty their bladder, resulting in greater amounts of urine being left in the bladder after each attempt to urinate. This can lead to complications such as repeated infections (cystitis) and bladder stones.

Other diseases such as prostatitis, prostatodynia and prostate cancer, which occurs in 11 percent of all Australian men , can cause symptoms similar to BPH, so it is always wise to speak with your health professional if you experience any of the above symptoms.

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[1] Br J Urol. 1994 Nov; 74(5):542-50.

[1] Br J Urol. 1994 Nov;74(5):542-50.

[1] Br J Urol. 1994 Nov;74(5):542-50.

[1] Br J Urol. 1994 Nov;74(5):542-50.

[1] John Macfarlane MD. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (benign enlargement of the prostate).  Netdoctor.co.uk. 02.03.2005

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: A Chronic Need To Urinate During The Night May Be One OF The First Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate