마지막 업데이트: 8월 15, 2026

Benign prostatic hyperplasia — BPH, or simply an enlarged prostate — is one of the commonest things men come to see me about. It rarely arrives suddenly. The symptoms build so gradually that most men adjust around them for years before mentioning it to anyone, which is a shame, because it is very treatable.

Symptoms that suggest BPH

None of these is dangerous in itself. What they cost is sleep, confidence and the freedom to be far from a toilet — and that is reason enough to have them assessed rather than tolerated.

Anatomy of the prostate gland, sitting between the bladder and the urethra
The prostate sits between the bladder and the urethra — which is why enlargement obstructs the flow.

Why the prostate enlarges

BPH is suspected mainly in men aged 50 and over, and three conditions have to be met for it to develop at all:

  1. A prostate gland. Obvious, but it makes the point — BPH does not occur without prostatic tissue.
  2. Androgen. The male hormone drives prostatic growth. Men with androgen insufficiency from birth do not develop BPH, which is what established the hormone’s role.
  3. Age. The consistent finding across the literature is that ageing is the fundamental trigger. The gland gains both more cells and larger ones over time, which is why measuring prostate size is part of the assessment.

Read those three together and the conclusion follows: an ageing man with normal hormones will develop some degree of BPH. US data bear that out — it affects 50% of men aged 50 and over, 70% of those aged 60–69, and more than 80% of men aged 70 and above. This is not a disease you catch or bring on yourself; it is closer to a feature of male ageing.

What you can actually influence

BPH cannot be prevented outright, since neither ageing nor androgen is optional. Its pace is another matter, and two risk factors are within your control:

  1. 대사 증후군 — there is strong evidence that hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia increase prostate size.
  2. 비만 — which appears to raise oxidative stress within prostatic tissue and contribute to enlargement.

Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, losing excess weight and staying active will not shrink the prostate, but they slow the trajectory — and they happen to be the same measures that protect the heart and the erections, which makes them an easy recommendation.

Why it is worth treating rather than tolerating

Left long enough, obstruction has consequences beyond inconvenience: 방광 감염 from urine that never fully clears, bladder stones, a bladder muscle that thickens and eventually works poorly, and — in severe, long-standing cases — damage to the kidneys.

The one that brings men to the emergency department is 급성 요폐 — suddenly being unable to pass urine at all, with a painfully full bladder. BPH is its commonest cause, and treating the prostate properly reduces the risk of ending up there.

One thing to be clear about

BPH is not prostate cancer, and it does not turn into prostate cancer. It is not a pre-cancerous condition. The two can coexist, and they cause overlapping symptoms, which is exactly why the assessment includes examination and a PSA discussion rather than assuming one or the other.

치료 옵션

Mild symptoms that do not bother you may need nothing more than monitoring. Where they do bother you, medication is the usual first step and works well for most men. For those who want to come off long-term tablets or who have not responded to them, water vapour therapy (Rezum) is a minimally invasive day-care procedure available at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters — there are also patient instructions for what the procedure involves.

If you have been experiencing BPH-related urinary symptoms or would like to explore treatment options including water vapor therapy, Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone offers specialist consultations at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. 진료 예약. 사미즈 시라차 병원 예약은 비뇨기과로 전화하여 하실 수 있습니다. 088-022-1445.

Frequently Asked Questions about Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that commonly affects men aged 50 and above. As the prostate grows, it compresses the urethra, causing urinary symptoms such as weak stream, frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete bladder emptying. BPH affects approximately 50% of men in their 50s and over 80% of men in their 70s.

What causes BPH?

BPH requires three conditions: the presence of a prostate gland, androgen (male hormone) activity, and the aging process. Androgens drive prostate cell growth, and cumulative aging leads to progressive enlargement. Metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity are modifiable risk factors that can accelerate prostate enlargement.

Is BPH the same as prostate cancer?

No. BPH is a benign (non-cancerous) condition involving prostate gland enlargement. It does not turn into prostate cancer and is not a precancerous lesion. However, both conditions can exist simultaneously and can share similar urinary symptoms, so a proper urological evaluation including PSA testing and physical examination is important to differentiate them.

Can BPH be cured or prevented?

BPH cannot be fully prevented since aging and androgen exposure are unavoidable, but progression can be delayed. Managing metabolic syndrome, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and staying physically active all reduce the risk of accelerated prostate growth. Medical treatment and surgery can effectively manage symptoms and prevent complications.

What complications can BPH cause if left untreated?

Untreated BPH can lead to significant complications including acute urinary retention (sudden inability to urinate), recurrent bladder infections due to incomplete bladder emptying, bladder stone formation, bladder wall thickening and dysfunction, and in severe cases, kidney damage from chronic urinary obstruction. Early consultation with a urologist helps prevent these complications.

고지 사항: 이 콘텐츠는 방콕병원 본원의 공인 비뇨기과 전문의인 소라위 위라소폰(Soarawee Weerasopone) 박사가 작성하고 검토했습니다. 교육 목적으로만 제공되며 의학적 조언에 해당하지 않습니다. 개인 메시징 채널을 통해 의학적 조언, 진단 또는 처방은 제공되지 않습니다. 의학적 치료를 시작하기 전에 항상 자격을 갖춘 의료 전문가와 상담하십시오.

의학적으로 작성 및 검토됨: 소아라위 위라소폰 박사(폼 박사) - 방콕 병원 본부 소속 비뇨기과 전문의, 2016년부터 비뇨기과 진료 중. 펠로우십: 로봇 수술, 창궁 기념 병원, 대만(2019) · 참관: 내시경 비뇨기과, 준텐도 대학 병원, 도쿄(2022) · 연구원 및 임상 참관: 베일러 의과대학 스콧 비뇨기과, 미국(2025~2026).

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