As men age, the prostate gland commonly enlarges, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although not cancerous, this overgrown tissue can press on the urethra near the bladder and interfere with urination. Urinary retention, infection, and other complications may follow if an obstruction is not corrected.

Medications for increasing urinary flow rate by relaxing smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck are used to treat the symptoms of BPH. Drugs that interfere with testosterone activity in the prostate may slow progress of the disorder. An herbal remedy that seems to act in this same manner is an extract of the berries of the saw palmetto, a low-growing palm tree. Saw palmetto has been found to delay the need for surgery in some cases of BPH.

In advanced cases of BPH, removal of the prostate, or prostatectomy, may be required. When this is performed through the urethra, the procedure is called a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The prostate may also be cut in a transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) to reduce pressure on the urethra. Other forms of energy, such as a laser beam or heat, have also been used to destroy prostatic tissue. BPH is diagnosed by digital rectal examination (DRE) or imaging studies.

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