What is an Enlarging Prostate?
As one of the primary organs in the male reproductive system, the prostate produces fluids in semen that help to sustain and protect sperm against natural vaginal acids. The prostate doubles by the time a man reaches 25 and continues to grow again when many men are in their 50s and through the remainder of their life. As the prostate grows it can put excess pressure on the urethra (the small tube that carries urine and semen). As this pressure increases the urethra can become pinched which can lead to painful and embarrassing symptoms such as urinary hesitancy, painful urination, and erectile dysfunction. If left untreated these conditions may eventually require surgery. This enlarging of the prostate is clinically known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. The Stages of Prostate Growth At birth the prostate weights around 1.5 grams During puberty the prostate grows to around 11 grams In the early to middle 20s the prostate grows to around 18 grams In the early 50s there is a new gr
