Causes of an Enlarged Prostate?

The prostate is the male reproductive gland that produces semen, a milky fluid used to transport sperm when a man ejaculates. The prostate gland puts pressure on the urethra when it becomes enlarged, creating difficulty urinating because it blocks the flow of urine. Severity of symptoms varies from man to man. An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common age-related condition and can be influenced by other issues as well, including genetics, surgeries and lifestyle choices.

Age

After a growth spurt during puberty, the gland is fully developed by the age of 25. Most men over the age of 40 experience some growth in the prostate gland, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. The condition is unrelated to prostate cancer, though doctors believe the level of estrogen and testosterone hormone production is tied to increased prostate growth during the aging process. While men younger than 40 can present with enlarged prostate symptoms, nearly half the men over the age of 60 and 90 percent of men over the age of 80 have enlarged prostates.

Heredity

Enlarged prostate glands seem to run in families. Most men who are diagnosed with the condition have a family history of urination difficulties. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic also report that black and white men have a higher incidence of prostate enlargement compared with Asian men.

Testicles

Characteristics about the testicles themselves may factor into prostate enlargement. Doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that men who have their testicles removed when they are young, perhaps due to testicular cancer, do not develop BPH. Removing the testicles after a diagnosis of enlarged prostate will cause the prostate to shrink back to its normal size, about the size of a walnut.

Lifestyle

Steps can be taken to reduce the level of prostrate enlargement as men age. Lack of exercise and cold weather tend to exacerbate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Alcohol and caffeine can make the symptoms worse, especially when taken after the evening meal. Doctors at the NIH recommend that men with mild symptoms of an enlarged prostate avoid antihistamines and over-the-counter cold medications as they can worsen the symptoms. Tension, anxiety and stress also can increase the symptoms and lead to additional complications such as urinary tract infections.