01
What happens when the prostate enlarges
The prostate is a small gland that sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. In many men, this gland grows larger with age. The condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short. While it is not cancer and does not cause cancer, an enlarged prostate can press on the urethra and interfere with normal urinary function. Understanding how this process works can help men recognise early signs and decide