What are the symptoms of Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BHP)?

BPH normally affects middle aged to elderly men. It is rare in men younger than 45 years of age. The prostate gland gets bigger in most men as the age, however only 25% of men over 55 and 50% over 75suffer from symptoms of its increase in size. In most developed countries today, elderly men are routinely screened for prostatic hyperplasia, by a simple blood test. The symptoms mostly are exhibited by the urinary tract. These symptoms are due to obstruction, such as acute or chronic retension of urine, or irritating symptoms such as increased frequency of urination, urgency, nocturia (need to get up more often at night to urinate), occasionally urinary incontinence. Other symptoms may also include difficulty in starting the urine flow and dribbling after urination ends. The force of the urine stream may decrease. There is no identifiable cause for BPH. The testis (i.e the reproductive organ in a male) produces hormones like testosterone; it is thought that this hormone may likely play a role in the formation of BPH. It is noted that castrated men (i.e. who have had their testis removed for reasons like cancer), do not develop BPH.