Possible Complications

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate may get worse over time. Some of the most common are:

• A weak urine stream that may start and stop.


• Urinating more often.


• Getting out of bed a few times at night to urinate.

In some men, an enlarged prostate can lead to other problems. Most of these problems appear only in severe cases. Taking a certain type of medicine can reduce your risk for some problems.

Men with an enlarged prostate are at risk for:

• Needing prostate surgery. Surgery can have side effects like loss of bladder control or sexual problems. You may need more than one procedure.



• Acute urinary retention. This occurs when the bladder becomes blocked and you can’t urinate at all. This is an emergency. Go to the hospital. Usually the doctor will put a tube into your bladder through your penis to restart urination. You may also need surgery to stop it from happening again.

  Check with your doctor about ways to prevent acute urinary retention. Sometimes non-prescription cold medicines can raise your risk. Read the labels of non-prescription cold medicines you may use. Let your doctor know if you have any questions.




• Sexual problems. Some men with severe symptoms have sexual problems. They may have trouble getting an erection, for instance.



• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Some symptoms are:


• Burning when you urinate
• Urinating more often
• Pain in your back or abdomen
• Cloudy or bloody urine
• Fever/chills

Urinary tract infections can often be cured with medicine. But some men with an enlarged prostate get these infections again and again.


• Other health problems. Over time, a very enlarged prostate can cause:


• Bladder stones
• Kidney stones
• Loss of bladder control (incontinence)
• Damage to the kidneys, the bladder, and the urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body)

These complications may often require prostate surgery.

When to call your doctor

An enlarged prostate is rarely serious. But it can cause problems that need treatment fast. Call your doctor if you have:

• Fever or chills


• Urinary symptoms that get worse


• Cloudy, strange-smelling, or bloody urine


• Pain in your belly or back, or


• Can’t urinate at all

If you can’t urinate at all, go to the emergency room. This could be a sign of acute urinary retention, which means your bladder is blocked. A blocked bladder needs treatment right away.

Also of Interest

Do you have an enlarged prostate? Take the Prostate Health Assessment and share it with your doctor.

See some of the ways an enlarged prostate can affect your life.