Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Explained

<p>Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It is extremely common, affecting about half of men by age 60 and nearly 90 percent by age 85. The word benign means it is not cancer, and it does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.</p><h2>Why It Happens</h2><p>As men age, hormone changes cause the prostate to grow. This growth usually happens in the central part of the gland, the area closest to the urethra. That is why even modest enlargement can begin to affect urination.</p><h2>BPH vs Prostate Cancer</h2><p>BPH and prostate cancer can cause similar urinary symptoms, but they are different conditions. BPH is growth of normal tissue. Prostate cancer is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Having BPH does not mean you will get cancer, but both can exist at the same time, which is why proper evaluation matters.</p>