Enlarged prostate glands are common in men over By age 80, most men suffer from some prostate enlargement. At Bellingham Urology Group in Bellingham and Mount Vernon, Washington, the board-certified urologists provide customized care for men with enlarged prostates. Call Bellingham Urology Group today or schedule a consultation online for expert treatment of your enlarged prostate.
The prostate is a golf ball-sized gland sitting just below your bladder. It makes seminal fluid that nourishes your sperm and carries them outside your body when you ejaculate. An enlarged prostate occurs when the gland grows bigger than it should, sometimes reaching the size of an orange.
If you have an enlarged prostate, the additional tissue squeezes your urethra the tube that transports urine from your bladder when you urinate. This can partially block your bladder, causing urinary symptoms such as:. These symptoms indicate that an enlarged prostate is compressing your urethra and restricting urine flow. If the enlargement is severe, you may be unable to urinate, causing a medical emergency.
The reason why some men develop an enlarged prostate is unclear, but research indicates that hormonal changes are likely to be a significant influence. Levels of the male sex hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone DHT fall with age, and BPH is most likely to develop after age Other factors that increase your risk of an enlarged prostate include excess body weight, lack of exercise, and a family history of BPH. Many men with an enlarged prostate also experience erectile dysfunction.
Bellingham Urology Group also performs the innovative UroLift procedure, a minimally invasive technique that offers rapid symptom relief. The UroLift system lifts and holds enlarged prostate tissue, stopping it from blocking your urethra.
