Conditions and symptoms
What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)? Label Warnings
Benign prostatic hyperplasia · say it: bih-NINE pross-TAT-ik hy-per-PLAY-zhuhAlso written: BPH, enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate enlargement
Short answer
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland, common with age, which can make passing urine harder.
What it means
The prostate is a gland below the bladder in men, wrapped around the tube that carries urine out. Benign prostatic hyperplasia means it has grown larger. It is not cancer. As it grows it can squeeze the tube, causing a weak stream, difficulty starting, needing to go often or at night, and a feeling of not emptying fully. Being completely unable to pass urine is an emergency and needs urgent help.
BPH shows up on labels in two ways. Alpha-blockers (such as tamsulosin) and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (such as finasteride) list it as what they treat. Other medicines warn people with BPH because they can make it harder to pass urine, for example anticholinergics, some antihistamines and decongestants found in cold and allergy remedies.
BPH is not prostate cancer and does not turn into it, though both can exist at the same time. Prostatitis is inflammation or infection of the prostate, a different problem.
Where you may see it
- 'Indications' sections of tamsulosin and finasteride labels
- Over-the-counter cold medicine labels ('ask a doctor if you have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate')
- Urology letters and ultrasound reports
📄 How it looks on a report
Ask a doctor before use if you have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland.
🙅 What it does not mean
- BPH is not cancer.
- It does not mean you will need surgery; many men manage with medicine or monitoring.
- It does not always cause symptoms.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Benign prostatic hyperplasia”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Benign prostatic hyperplasia”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Furosemide
A loop diuretic, a type of medicine that helps the body get rid of extra fluid through urine
- Olanzapine
An atypical antipsychotic, a prescription medicine used for certain mental health conditions
- Tadalafil
a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which is a medicine that blocks an enzyme called PDE5
- Tamsulosin
An alpha-blocker medicine. The label calls it an alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist that acts on the prostate. The FDA class is not listed.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Benign prostatic hyperplasia” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “benign prostatic hyperplasia”
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