It is common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages. The prostate gland normally begins to increase in size, enough to be noticed, as a man moves into his 50's. This enlargement will squeeze the urethra, the space through which the urine flows, and slow down the stream. This can cause a build up of urine in the bladder, this in turn could eventually cause a back up into the kidneys and subsequent kidney damage or failure. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Volume 4, Number 2 St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Alpha blockers are the drugs of first choice for medical treatment.
Finasteride may be of benefit in patients with large prostrate glands. Furthermore, after castration, benign prostatic hyperplasia has been observed to regress. Although some of the signs of BPH and prostate cancer are the same, having BPH does not seem to increase the chances of getting prostate cancer. You may first notice symptoms of BPH yourself, or your doctor may find that your prostate is enlarged during a routine checkup. When BPH is suspected, you may be referred to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in problems of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system.