Enlarging Prostate

As the prostate grows, it puts pressure on the urethra—the tube that carries urine and semen out of the penis. This increasing pressure on the urethra can lead to bothersome urinary symptoms.

An enlarged prostate is not life-threatening, but—if left untreated—can lead to serious problems like:

Acute urinary retention (AUR)—a medical emergency where the prostate becomes so large that it completely blocks the flow of urine from the bladder
Urination that you can't control (incontinence)
Urinary stones
Kidney damage
Bladder infection
Surgery

To see if you are at risk for an enlarged prostate, take the Prostate Health Assessment and speak to your doctor about the findings. If you have Enlarging Prostate, you should ask your doctor about the latest treatment options for shrinking your prostate.