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Enlarged prostate

More than 1 in 3 men over 50 have symptoms of an enlarged prostate1. If your prostate symptoms are uncomfortable or getting in the way of life, you don’t have to simply put up with them. Specialist prostate consultants and new treatments are here to help.

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Birmingham Prostate Clinic is part of GenesisCare, the UK’s leading independent provider of cancer care. Together, our consultants provide a complete pathway to expert care for cancer and benign conditions at a range of private hospitals in the West Midlands and the wider UK.

About prostate enlargement

An enlarged prostate is common as you age.

It’s also known as:

  • Benign prostatic enlargement
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

An enlarged prostate means the prostate gland has grown bigger. This can make it press on the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) causing problems urinating.

An enlarged prostate is a benign condition and is not caused by cancer.

Our consultants are experts at managing prostate enlargement and can recommend the right test and treatments to help relieve your symptoms.

Consultants at Birmingham Prostate Clinic have helped pioneer innovative treatments for enlarged prostates, including being some of the first to offer GreenLight laser surgery in the UK.

The prostate is a gland found between the penis and the bladder, and plays an important role in male fertility by producing a fluid that transports and supports semen.

People with a prostate include:

  • Men
  • Trans women*
  • Non-binary people
  • Some intersex people

* Trans women can still get an enlarged prostate, even if they take hormones. The prostate is not routinely removed in gender confirmation surgery.

The cause of prostate enlargement is still unclear2. It could be due to changes in your hormone levels as you get older.

You’re more likely to have an enlarged prostate if…

  • You are over 50
  • Your father or brother have had an enlarged prostate
  • You have a sedentary lifestyle (low physical activity)

Enlarged prostate symptoms

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate can vary from person to person, but are usually related to problems with passing urine.

If you have an enlarged prostate, you might notice:

  • You find it difficult to start urinating
  • You need to urinate often or urgently
  • You feel like your bladder isn’t empty after urinating

An enlarged prostate can affect sexual activity, such as problems getting or keeping an erection or low sex drive.

For some people, these symptoms are very mild, but for others they can be uncomfortable and get in the way of life. In this case, there are treatments ready to help.

Treating an enlarged prostate

Depending how symptoms are affecting your life, your treatment could be:

  • Lifestyle changes or medicines
  • Procedures to reduce the size of the prostate

There are range of new and innovative treatment options to choose from. With the help of a prostate specialist, you can choose a treatment plan that you feel comfortable and confident in, to help you manage symptoms.

Birmingham Prostate Clinic are a team of leading urologists and oncologists, who specialise in diagnosing and treating prostate, bladder and kidney conditions.

An enlarged prostate is one of the most common conditions that we speak to patients about. Our consultants have years of experience helping people to manage their condition, with personalised treatment that can relieve frustrating symptoms.

Worried about prostate symptoms?

Our leading prostate consultants are here with specialist advice and access to the right tests and treatments for you.

Book an appointment

Enlarged prostate diagnosis

The first step is seeing a specialist to talk about your symptoms and how this is affecting you. Your specialist can use a number of tests to see what’s causing the symptoms, including enlarged prostate, infections or other conditions like diabetes, kidney problems or prostate cancer.

Simply book an appointment speak to an experienced consultant about your symptoms and tests that can help get the answers you need, or learn about common tests for an enlarged prostate below.

Enlarged prostate treatments

Our expert urologists are specialists in prostate conditions, and the latest treatments to control symptoms and minimise side effects for the best possible outcomes.

Learn about common treatments for enlarged prostate below, or simply book an appointment to talk to an expert urologist about the latest treatments available and the best options for you.

Book an appointment

It’s time to get you the treatment plan you need. Book an appointment with Mr Alan Doherty, Consultant Urologist, to discuss your condition and the medical care that can help.