Causes of Prostate Enlargement
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Process of Development
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Prostate enlargement occurs when the walnut-sized prostate gland fits its way between the urethra and the pubic bone. Because of the blockage, the muscles in the bladder will have to exert more and more force for the urine to pass through the narrowed passage. Subsequently, this causes the muscles to become more sensitive. The person suffering from this condition will thus have the urgency to urinate more often, leading to an enlarged prostate gland that will grow bigger in time until the bladder can no longer empty itself completely. When this happens, other more harmful medical problems concerning the bladder, the kidneys and the urinary tract may result.
Complications
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While not life-threatening in itself, BPH can lead to more serious conditions such as bladder stones, kidney damage, urinary tract infection, and acute urinary retention (where the urinary system halts completely). In most cases, an enlarged prostate simply needs to be monitored closely to prevent any further medical problems and complications.
Decreased Testosterone
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Medical experts do not have a definite answer for what causes benign prostatic hyperplasia. What is known is that it occurs primarily in older men and that it does not develop in men who were castrated (had their testes removed) before puberty. Based on these premises, some medical researchers believe that enlarged prostate may be caused by lower levels of testosterone (male hormone) production in middle to old age. As men age, the levels of testosterone in their blood decreases, leaving a higher proportion of estrogen (female hormone), which males also produce but in small amounts. Studies conducted in animals have shown how a higher amount of estrogen within the prostate gland can increase activity that promotes cell growth.
Accumulation of DHT
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Another theory on what causes prostate enlargement is the accumulation of high levels of dihydrotes-tosterone (DHT) in the prostate. DHT is a substance derived from testosterone, which is believed to help control its growth. Most animals stop producing DHT as they age but researchers found that a drop of DHT in the blood can make older men continue to produce and accumulate it in the prostate, and thus encourage cell growth. Furthermore, researchers found that men who do not produce DHT in do not develop an enlarged prostate.
Cell Instruction
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Other experts suggest that prostate enlargement may develop as a result of arrested cell instructions that are reawakened only later in life. According to the theory, cells in one section of the prostate gland follow the revitalized instructions and deliver the signals to other cells, instructing these cells to grow and be more sensitive to growth hormone influencers.
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