Benign prostatic hyperplasia:A common, noncancerous enlargement of the前列腺. The enlarged prostate maycompresstheurinarytube(urethra), which courses through the center of theprostate, impeding the flow ofurinefrom thebladderthrough the urethra to the outside. Abbreviated BPH. IfBPHis severe enough, complete blockage can occur. BPH generally begins after age 30, evolves slowly, and causes symptoms only after age 50. Half of men over age 50 develop symptoms of BPH, but only a minority need medical or surgicalintervention. Medicaltherapyincludes drugs such as finasteride andterazosin. Prostatesurgeryhas traditionally been seen as offering the most benefits'and the most risks'for BPH. BPH is not asignof prostate cancer. Also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy andnodular hyperplasia of the prostate.
