What is BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition in which the prostate enlarges as men get older. BPH is a very common condition that affects over 42 million men in the US¹ and over 660 million aging men worldwide.^2.3 Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s have BPH.² While BPH is a benign condition and unrelated to prostate cancer, it can greatly affect a man’s quality of life.

As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing bothersome urinary symptoms. If left untreated, BPH can lead to permanent bladder damage.⁴

Symptoms include:^5,6

Frequent need to urinate both day and night
Weak or slow urinary stream
A sense that you cannot completely empty your bladder
Difficulty or delay in starting urination
Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
A urinary stream that stops and starts

Symptoms of BPH can cause loss of productivity, depression, and decreased quality of life.⁷

If you suffer from the above symptoms, you are not alone. BPH is the leading reason men visit a urologist.⁸

You can measure your BPH symptoms by taking the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Sharing this information with your physician will help them understand the severity of your symptoms.

Difference of Normal Prostate and Benign Prostate Enlargement

Even watchful waiting has its risks. Bladder outlet obstruction could result in irreversible bladder damage if left untreated.⁴

^{1. NeoTract US Market Model estimates for 2020, data on file.

2. Berry, et al., Journal of Urology 1984

3. US Census Bureau international database worldwide population estimates for 2020

4. Tubaro, Drugs Aging 2003

5. Rosenberg, Int J Clin Pract 2007

6. Vuichoud, Can J Urol 2015

7. Speakman, BJUI International 2014

8. IMS Health NDTI Urology Specialty Profile Report 2013}

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