The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut that sits deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder. It has a number of functions:

1. surrounds the urethra (which carries urine from the bladder to the penis) and acts as a valve to regulate urinary flow.
2. produces liquid that mixes with sperm to form semen.  
3. plays a role in hormone production

As men get older,  the prostate enlarges which causes issues with urinary flow, erectile dysfunction, and increased risk of urinary tract infections.

• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Needing to urinate more often
• Not being able to fully empty the bladder
• Weak stream and dribbling

If you begin to experience these symptoms you should make an appointment with your doctor. Before you attend it might be helpful to keep a bladder diary for 2 days so the doctor can get an idea of your symptoms. click here to download bladder chart

You can also complete the screening tool below to give the doctor an idea of the severity of your symptoms which can help with the overall assessment.

BPH is extremely common in older men, affecting 40% of men over 50 years. It means that the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous. This causes the prostate to squeeze the urethra, making it harder for urine to pass through the tube.

Diagnosis of BPH often comes from symptoms but your doctor might do some tests to check for the size of the prostate and rule out other causes

• Rectal exam: the doctor inserts a gloved finger through the back passage to feel the shape and size of the prostate. The exam might be uncomfortable, but is usually very quick and shouldn’t be painful.
• Urine test: the doctor may ask for a urine sample to rule out infection and kidney problems
• Bladder diary: Over 2 days note how much you are drinking and what type of drink. Also note how much you are urinating and when. Download this chart: bladder chart.docx
• PSA blood test: PSA is a chemical released by the prostate into the blood. Usually, the more PSA in the blood, the larger the prostate.

Lifestyle:

There are also a number of changes you can make to your lifestyle to improve some of the urinary symptoms:

• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks can help reduce bladder urgency symptoms
• keigal exercises
• Drink less in the evening before bed can help

Medication:

There are a number of medicines which, if taken daily can help improve the urinary flow.

Surgery:

there are a number of surgical techniques including surgery and laser therapy which can remove the prostate or reduce it in size.

The Prostate Cancer navigator app includes:

• Treatment decision making tool
• PSA test results tracker
• A monitor to record any side effects of treatment
• Practical information and support resources

The app is personal to you- your data will be encrypted and will not be stored remotely.

Enlarged prostates can be caused in rare cases by prostate cancer and in many causes men can have no symptoms of prostate cancer. 

Diagnosis is usually made through further assessment with our clinical team, this could include:

• Rectal exam: the doctor might feel an enlarged prostate that is harder than he would expect or has a rough edge
• PSA blood test: PSA levels are usually very high in prostate cancer

If the doctor suspects you may have prostate cancer they can send you for an MRI scan or a biopsy done by specialists. If you are looking for more information on the PSA test (prostate specific antigen) click here

For further information on prostate cancer, please see the link to prostate cancer UK or NHS inform