Male Incontinence
An enlarged prostate can make it hard for your bladder to empty, leading to urinary leakage.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Enlarged Prostate
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Overview
Frequent urination, an overwhelming urge to urinate, difficulty urinating, and urinary leakage are uncomfortable symptoms that may be signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), typically known as an enlarged prostate. While the condition is most common among older men, it should be treated at any age to prevent more serious issues from occurring, such as damage to your bladder or kidneys. Untreated BPH can also have a negative impact on quality of life. Duke’s urologists are experts in diagnosing and treating enlarged prostates. They can recommend the best treatment to help you achieve better control of your urine flow.
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Testing for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Tests Overview
In addition to an in-depth discussion of your urinary symptoms and a review of your medical history, more testing may be required.
Urinalysis
Description
A urine test checks for things such as blood and inflammation. It can assess whether a bladder infection may be causing your symptoms.
Uroflowmetry
Description
A uroflow test measures the speed of your urinary stream. Slower than normal rates may indicate that an enlarged prostate is reducing the stream.
Post-Void Residual Urine Test
Description
After you urinate, your urologist may use ultrasound to see how much urine is left in your bladder. This may identify a blockage or signs of bladder dysfunction.
Cystoscopy
Description
Your urologist will place a long, thin camera through your urethra to see the inside of your prostate and bladder. This is used to assess how much the prostate is blocking urine flow and the effects it is having on the bladder.
Transrectal Ultrasound
Description
Your urologist will place a finger-sized ultrasound probe through your rectum to measure the size of the prostate. Knowing the prostate size is critical to treatment success since not all prostates will benefit from certain procedures.
Our Locations
Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
Conditions Related to an Enlarged Prostate
Best Hospital for Urology in North Carolina
Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our urology program is nationally ranked, and the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2023–2024.
Why Choose Duke
Accurate Diagnosis
We perform a comprehensive evaluation and use advanced techniques and diagnostic equipment to accurately diagnose the cause of your prostate problem. We follow American Urological Association guidelines and utilize an evidence-based approach to provide you with the best care.
Experts in BPH
Duke Health is a high-volume, regional referral center for people who need advanced and complex BPH surgery. Our urologists who treat BPH and prostate problems are board-certified and have undergone additional advanced training through fellowships in laser surgery and robotics.
High Cure Rates and Low Complication Rates
Our use of modern surgical techniques, adherence to treatment guidelines, sophisticated tools and equipment, and our skill and experience are the reasons why our surgeries have such high rates of success.
Assistance for Men Who Have Failed Previous Treatments
Many patients are referred to us or seek our care after multiple failed attempts at treatment. Often this results from being diagnosed without proper imaging tests, or because people were unaware they could benefit from a single surgery that has a cure rate over 98%.
This page was medically reviewed on 07/25/2023 by