Symptoms

LOWER UNARY TRACT SYMPTOMS (LUTS)

Symptoms of BPH most often begin around age 50 but can be seen much earlier. Often the first symptom is a decrease in the strength of the urinary stream but other symptoms can include:

• a decrease in the force of stream
• a urinary stream that starts and stops throughout the flow
• a delay in starting the stream frequent urination (having to urinate more often than every 3 hours)
• a feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely
• waking up at night to urinate
• dribbling urine at the end of the stream
• inability to urinate

Although many men believe these symptoms are just a part of getting older, the truth is, these symptoms are not normal at any age and over time these symptoms may be harmful to the bladder and kidneys. Incompletely emptying the bladder and overworking the bladder muscle can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence. It is important to seek treatment early because damage to the bladder can often be permanent. When BPH is recognized and treated in its early stages, however, there is a lower risk of developing such complications.