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Causes of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The exact cause of BPH is not entirely clear but ageing and hormonal changes appear to play an important role.
It is a well known fact that BPH occurs mainly in older men and that it does not develop in men whose testes were removed before puberty.
Men produce testosterone (male hormone) and small amounts of estrogen (female hormone). The amount of active testosterone in the blood decreases with increasing age, leaving a higher proportion of estrogen. Animal studies have suggested that BPH may occur because the higher amount of estrogen within the gland increases the activity of substances that promote cell growth.
Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a substance derived from testosterone in the prostate, which may help in controlling its growth. Most animals lose the ability to produce DHT as they age. Research has shown that men who do not produce DHT do not develop BPH.
Risk Factors for developing BPH include-
- Ageing
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Erectile dysfunction Family history of BPH
When does Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia starts?