Is benign prostatic hyperplasia the same as benign prostatic hypertrophy?

Patient's question:

I want to know if benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate enlargement are the same thing. The doctor said I have BPH, and I want to know if hyperplasia means enlargement.

Doctor's answer:

Prostate enlargement is different from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH refers to an increase in the number of prostate cells, whereas prostate enlargement occurs when the number of cells remains the same but the size of the cells increases. If BPH is not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to obstruction at the bladder outlet, resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and urinary urgency, causing significant suffering for the patient. Therefore, it is important to actively treat BPH. While the treatment for BPH is not difficult, delaying treatment can cause severe harm to overall health.

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