What does BPH have to do with bladder control?

What does BPH have to do with bladder control?

Jennifer Anger, M.D, M.P.H. (Assistant Professor) gives expert video advice on: Is there a connection between my prostate and urination problems?; Is it normal to feel like I have to urinate almost all the time?; Why do I sometimes feel like I can't completely finish when I urinate? and more...

As men age the only organ that grows in the body is the prostate, and as it continues to grow it can block the urethra, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder out into the toilet. When the prostate becomes large and particularly blocks the urethra, men have two types of symptoms. The first type is obstructive symptoms where they have difficulty emptying their bladder, a weak urinary stream, a slow stream and a sensation of incomplete emptying. They can also get irradiative symptoms, which are frequency, urgency, and even urge incontinence. These are the same symptoms that we refer to as overactive bladder. Sometimes in men they can actually be caused by the prostate.