The prostate gland can start to enlarge in a man as early as age 40, but usually around middle age. The medical term for this is benign prostatic hyperplasia otherwise known as BPH.

BPH is a fact of life for all aging men. It is normal as a man gets old enough he will start experiencing an enlarged prostate. BPH is not cancer and BPH is not a litmus test for prostate cancer.

An enlarged prostate can have a profound effect on a man's life though. The problem is the desire to urinate can become so strong from BPH that it interupts daily routines. It can become difficult to make it through and appointment or even a plane flight without feeling like you are going to burst if you don't get to go urinate.

While statistics from different sources vary one fact found in common on this subject is by age 85 90% of men will have an enlarged prostate.

When the prostate is enlarged it puts pressure on a man's urethra (urinary canal). This press causes the urethra to narrow, making it difficult to urinate.

Normally a prostae gland is the size and shape of a walnut. It wraps around the urethra and is located below the bladder between the pubic bone and rectum. To compensate for the narrowing of the urethra which makes it harder for urine to pass your bladder has to use more force to push your urine out. Like any muscle that gets used more often and has new physical strain the bladder muscle actualy becomes thicker. The net result is a stronger bladder that creates the urge to urinate more frequently.

As the prostate continues to get larger and apply even more squeezing pressure around the urethra it might not be able to completely get all your urine out. In the event this caused a complete inability to urinate the situation could be considered an emergency.