It’s not usually serious and often doesn’t cause any symptoms at all, but it can require treatment. Here is everything you need to know.
1
What is an enlarged prostate?
The prostate is a small gland found in the pelvis between the penis and the bladder.
If it becomes enlarged, it can put pressure on the bladder and the urethra – the tube that urine passes through.
The medical term for this is benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).
The exact cause isn’t known, but doctors believe it is linked to hormonal changes due to age.
It is not cancerous.
What are the symptoms?
Because of its location, an enlarged prostate can affect how you go to the toilet. It may cause:
- Difficulty starting to pee
- A frequent need to pee, especially at night
- Problems fully emptying your bladder
- A weak flow
- Dribbling urine after you finish
- A sudden urge to urinate
But not all men will experience symptoms.
How common is it?
An enlarged prostate is very common in men over the age of 50.
About one in three men aged 50-plus have urinary symptoms, and an enlarged prostate is the most common cause.
Yale Medicine estimates about half of all men aged 51 to 60 have an enlarged prostate, rising to 70 per cent aged 60 to 69, and 80 per cent of men over 70.
It is diagnosed through urine samples, blood tests, liquid charts and physical examination.
Does an enlarged prostate require treatment?
Many men with an enlarged prostate won’t require any treatment.
But for others, the condition can cause symptoms which need medical attention.
This could include medication to reduce the size of the prostate and relax the bladder.
Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to drugs.
Common procedures include a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which involves cutting away a section of the prostate.
Most sufferers are also encouraged to drink less alcohol and exercise more.
King Charles, 75, will undergo a “corrective procedure” for his enlarged prostate. It is not known which one.
Buckingham Palace said: “In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.
“His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.
“The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”
Are there any dangers?
Complications are rare, but include urinary tract infections (UTIs), chronic urinary retention (when you cannot empty your bladder fully), and acute urinary retention (the sudden inability to pass any urine).