An enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is very common as men get older. About half of men in their 50s and most men over 80 have some enlargement. It isn’t cancer and doesn’t raise your risk of prostate cancer, but it can make peeing slower, more frequent and more annoying.
Common symptoms
- A weak or slow urine stream
- Trouble starting to pee, or stopping and starting
- Needing to pee often, especially at night
- A sudden, urgent need to pee
- Feeling that your bladder hasn’t fully emptied
- Dribbling at the end
These symptoms can also be caused by other problems, such as a urine infection, diabetes or, less often, prostate cancer, so it’s worth seeing a doctor to find out.
Self-care that helps
- Cut down on drinks in the evening, especially in the 2 hours before bed.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol, which make you pee more and can irritate the bladder.
- Double voiding: after peeing, wait a few seconds and try again.
- Avoid constipation, which puts pressure on the bladder. See constipation relief.
- Check your medicines. Some cold and allergy medicines with decongestants or older antihistamines can make it harder to pee. Ask a pharmacist.
- Stay active and keep a healthy weight.
Medical treatments
If symptoms bother you, a doctor may suggest:
- Alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin, which relax the prostate and bladder neck and often help within days
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride or dutasteride, which slowly shrink the prostate over 6 to 12 months
- Combination treatment or tadalafil for some men
- Procedures such as TURP, laser treatment or newer minimally invasive options, for more severe symptoms
These are prescription treatments, so they need a doctor’s assessment.
What about herbal products?
Saw palmetto is the best-studied herbal option, but large, well-designed trials found it worked no better than a placebo for urinary symptoms. Ayurvedic formulas such as Himalaya Himplasia are traditionally used to support prostate and urinary health, but evidence in people is limited. If you try one, see a doctor first to rule out other causes, and don’t use it instead of treatment your doctor recommends.
See a doctor urgently if
- You can’t pee at all (urinary retention): this is an emergency
- You see blood in your urine
- You have pain or burning when peeing, fever, or pain in your lower back or side
- Your symptoms get worse quickly
Frequently asked questions
Can an enlarged prostate go back to normal?
The prostate doesn’t usually shrink on its own, but symptoms often stay mild for years, and medicines like finasteride can shrink it over time.
Is an enlarged prostate the same as prostate cancer?
No. BPH is non-cancerous and doesn’t lead to cancer. But the symptoms can overlap, so a doctor’s check is important.
At what age should men get their prostate checked?
Many US guidelines suggest discussing prostate cancer screening with your doctor from age 50, or earlier (around 40 to 45) if you’re Black or have a close relative with prostate cancer.
More in our Everyday Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.
This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Supplements are not evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
