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As you get older, your prostate can get bigger and cause troublesome symptoms.

The first thing you might notice is that you have to urinate more often during the day or at night. Unfortunately, many men ignore these symptoms. They think these problems are just a normal part of getting older. But these symptoms are not normal: they are due to a medical condition that can be treated.

BPH can start to get you down. You might feel tired because you never sleep through the night. Or you might feel anxious during the day if you're not close to a bathroom. This anxiety can disrupt your usual routine. For example, you may stop playing outdoor sports, such as golf, or stop going to the movies or church.¹ You may also be concerned that you could have a serious illness.

It's important to get these symptoms checked out. Some BPH symptoms are similar to the symptoms of more serious conditions, such as prostate cancer. Also, your doctor may be able to give you some simple advice that can help relieve your symptoms without any treatment. (See What can I do to help my symptoms?)

Here's what you might feel if you have an enlarged prostate.

Over time, your symptoms may become worse, especially if your urethra (the tube that empties your bladder) becomes severely blocked. What usually happens is that your bladder doesn't empty completely so urine is left in your bladder. This may lead to more severe symptoms. Your doctor may call these symptoms complications. For more, see Complications of an enlarged prostate.

If you are diagnosed with BPH, your doctor may give you a questionnaire that asks about your symptoms. Doctors use this questionnaire to measure how severe your symptoms are when you are first diagnosed. They can then compare your "symptom score" before and after treatment to see how your symptoms change over time or whether a treatment is working. For more about this questionnaire, see How your doctor may measure your symptoms.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.