Benign prostate enlargementOverview

Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is the medical term to describe an enlarged prostate, a condition that can affect how you pass urine.


Benign prostate enlargement is where the prostate, a small gland found near a man's bladder, is bigger than usual. It's not usually serious.


Symptoms of benign prostate enlargement include needing to pee more than usual and finding it hard to empty your bladder.


It's not clear what causes benign prostate enlargement. It's thought to be linked to hormone changes that happen as you get older.


Benign prostate enlargement may not need treatment if it's mild. If it's more severe, you may need medicine or surgery to make your prostate smaller.

Page last reviewed: 31/03/2017
Next review due: 31/03/2020