Patient's question:
When I went to the bathroom yesterday, it felt a bit awkward, like I couldn't fully empty my bladder. Also, I think my hemorrhoids are getting worse. Is this because my benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has flared up again, causing compression?Could you please tell me: What are the causes of benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Doctor's answer:
There are two necessary conditions for the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): one is advanced age, and the other is the presence of functional testes. Experiments have found that among 28 former eunuchs from the Qing Dynasty who underwent thorough examinations, 22 were found to have almost no detectable prostate tissue. This means that functional testes are a very necessary condition for the fibrosis of the prostate.The pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia involves many mechanisms. Overall, it is caused by the disruption of the balance between cellular fibrosis and apoptosis in prostate epithelial cells.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), prostate diseases are referred to as "jīng nóng" (seminal essence and turbid fluid). The names are derived based on urinary symptoms. The general causes include yin deficiency with excess fire, kidney yang deficiency, phlegm-turbidity stasis, lung qi stagnation, and spleen qi deficiency.