The Facts
The prostate gland is a small round lump of tissue located behind the base
of the penis. Its function is to add fluid to the semen, the liquid that
carries the sperm. It tends to grow bigger as men enter middle age, and continues
to grow with age. In some men the prostate gland can grow to be more than seven
times its original size. This runaway growth is called hyperplasia, or
sometimes hypertrophy, and results in the condition benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH).
BPH causes no symptoms or problems in two-thirds of men over the age of
50 years, but the chance of developing symptoms increases with each additional
year. The prostate surrounds the top of the urethra, the tube through which
we urinate, just where it meets the bladder. If the prostate gets too big, it
can squeeze the urethra, partly closing it. This can lead to various bladder
problems.
Having BPH doesn't increase your chances of getting prostate cancer. The two
diseases can have similar symptoms, although prostate cancer often has no symptoms.
It's also possible to have BPH and prostate cancer at the same time.