The size of the prostate does not always determine the severity of obstruction or symptoms. Some men with greatly enlarged prostate glands have little obstruction and few symptoms, whilst others with small glands have greater problems, although generally the larger the prostate the greater the risk. However, you may not know that you have any obstruction until you suddenly find yourself unable to urinate at all. This condition is called acute urinary retention.
Severe BPH can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence - the inability to control urination. If the bladder is permanently damaged, treatment for BPH may be ineffective. When BPH is found in its earlier stages, there is a lower risk of developing such complications.
The incidence of BPH tends to increase with age. It particularly affects men over the age of 50 and nearly half (43%) of men over the age of 65 have either urinary symptoms or a reduced urinary flow due to BPH. As many as 9 out of 10 men in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH.
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