Enlarged Prostate – what to ask your doctor
The prostate gland often grows larger as men get older. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate may cause you problems with urinating.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider about your prostate.
Questions
What is the prostate gland?
Where is it in my body?
What does the prostate gland do?
What causes the prostate gland to enlarge?
Do many other men have prostate problems?
How do I know my problem is not prostate cancer?
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
Will these symptoms get worse? How quickly?
Can any of these symptoms be harmful or dangerous?
What tests should I have?
How can I treat my symptoms at home?
Is it OK to drink alcohol? How about coffee and other drinks with caffeine?
How much fluid should I drink during the day?
Are there medicines that may make my symptoms worse?
Are there exercises that can help with my symptoms?
What can I do so that I do not wake up at night as much?
I have heard there are different herbs and supplements that may improve my symptoms? Is this true? Are these herbs or supplements safe to use?
What medicines may help?
Are there different types? How are they different?
Will they make my symptoms go away completely?
Does their benefit wear off over time?
What side effects should I look for?
What should I do if I am having a hard time urinating?
Questions to ask when thinking about having surgery for an enlarged prostate:
- Have I tried all the different safe treatments and medicines that may help?
- How quickly will my symptoms get worse if I do not have surgery?
- What are the serious medical problems that can happen if I do not have surgery?
- If I do not have surgery now, does that make having surgery later less effective or more dangerous?
What are the different types of surgery that I can have?
- Are there surgeries that are better for my situation?
- Will I ever need another surgery for a large prostate? Does one kind of surgery help for longer?
- What are the side effects of the different surgeries? Is one surgery more likely to cause problems with erections? With urinary incontinence? With ejaculation?
- Do I need to stay in the hospital after the surgeries? How long will it take to recover?
- Is there anything I can do before surgery to make recovery easier?
References
Capogrosso P, Salonia A, Montorsi F. Evaluation and nonsurgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 150.
Kaplan SA. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 114.
Moul JW, Gridley CM. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Kellerman RD, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn’s Current Therapy 2025. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:1233-1236.
Treatment Options
Your provider will likely have you get a blood test to check your testosterone level. You will also be checked for other causes of your symptoms. These include medicine side effects, thyroid problems, or depression.
If you have low testosterone, hormone therapy may help. The medicine used is man-made testosterone. This treatment is called testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. TRT can be given as a pill, gel, patch, injection, or implant.
TRT may relieve or improve symptoms in some men. It may help keep bones and muscles strong. TRT seems to be more effective in young men with very low testosterone levels. TRT can also be helpful for older men.
TRT has risks. These may include:
- Infertility
- Enlarged prostate leading to difficulty urinating
- Blood clots
- Worsening cardiovascular disease
- Sleep problems
- Cholesterol problems
At this time, it is unclear whether TRT increases the risk of prostate cancer or symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, TRT is avoided in men with prostate or breast cancer as it may worsen their condition. There is an increased risk of high blood pressure with TRT.
Talk with your provider about whether TRT is right for you. If you do not notice any change in symptoms after treatment for 3 months, it is less likely that TRT treatment will benefit you.
If you decide to start TRT, be sure to see your provider for regular checkups.
When to Call the Doctor
Contact your provider if:
- You have symptoms of low testosterone
- You have questions or concerns about treatment
Alternative Names
What to ask your doctor about enlarged prostate; Benign prostatic hypertrophy – what to ask your doctor; BPH – what to ask your doctor
References
Matsumoto AM, Anawalt BD. Testicular disorders. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 17.
Swerdloff RS, Wang C. The testis and male hypogonadism, infertility, and sexual dysfunction. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 216.
US Food and Drug Administration website. FDA drug safety communication: FDA cautions about using testosterone products for low testosterone due to aging; requires labeling change to inform of possible increased risk of heart attack and stroke with use.