The most common prostate problem among men over age 50, this condition can cause embarrassing urination issues.

Feeling the pressure

As you age, your prostate can grow from the size of a walnut to about the size of a lemon. It’s not clear why the prostate grows like this, but it’s believed certain male hormones such as dihydrotestosterone tend to act more strongly on the prostate gland later in life.

Because the prostate is located just below the bladder, when it becomes larger it can place pressure on the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out of the body. This may lead to a variety of urination problems.

For example, you may have trouble beginning to urinate, continue to dribble afterward and feel like you have not fully emptied your bladder. Urine that doesn’t get expelled and collects in the bladder can increase the risk of infection, which in turn makes it painful to urinate and causes even more bathroom trips and potentially loss of bladder control. Urinary tract (or bladder) infections can also lead to a kidney infection.

Treating with drugs

See your doctor if you have any of these problems. A digital rectal exam can often confirm an enlarged prostate, and your doctor may take a urine sample to check for a bladder infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

If your prostate is causing symptoms, your doctor will likely offer you medication to improve and manage them. Two main classes of drugs are used: alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). Your doctor may prescribe one or both types, depending on your symptoms and the size of your prostate gland.