Article
Can an enlarged prostate be cured permanently?
An enlarged prostate is usually managed rather than cured, but symptoms can be controlled well and some procedures give lasting relief.
An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) is usually managed rather than permanently "cured", but its symptoms can be very effectively controlled, and certain surgical procedures can give long-lasting relief. It is a common, non-cancerous part of ageing for many men. This article explains what can and cannot be done.
It is a topic in our erectile dysfunction section.
What an enlarged prostate is
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that commonly occurs as men age. The enlarged gland presses on the urethra, causing urinary symptoms such as a weak stream, difficulty starting, frequency and waking at night to urinate.
Managed, not usually "cured"
For most men, BPH is controlled rather than permanently cured, because the underlying age-related growth tends to continue. The good news is that symptoms can be managed very well with lifestyle measures, medication, or procedures, often for many years.
| Approach | Note |
|---|---|
| Lifestyle | helps mild symptoms |
| Medication | relaxes or shrinks the prostate |
| Surgery/procedures | long-lasting relief |
Medication options
Common medicines include alpha-blockers, which relax the prostate and bladder neck to ease flow, and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which can shrink the gland over months. Interestingly, tadalafil (Cialis) is also used for BPH symptoms, which can suit men who also have ED.
Surgical and procedural options
When medication is not enough, procedures such as TURP or newer minimally invasive treatments remove or reduce the obstructing tissue. These can provide long-lasting, sometimes effectively permanent relief of symptoms, though the prostate is not "reset" to youth.
When to see a doctor
Urinary symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, partly to confirm it is BPH and not another condition, and partly to choose the right treatment. Because BPH overlaps with ED in older men, both can sometimes be addressed together. See the main purpose of Cialis.
Cialis use: main purpose of Cialis. Urologist: urologist and ED. Delayed ejaculation: delayed ejaculation.
Living well with BPH
Many men live comfortably with BPH for years by combining simple measures — limiting fluids before bed, reducing caffeine and alcohol, and not delaying urination — with medication where needed. Regular review ensures the approach still fits as symptoms change, so the condition stays well controlled even without a permanent cure.
Frequently asked questions
- Can an enlarged prostate be cured permanently?
- It is usually managed rather than cured, but symptoms can be controlled well, and some procedures give long-lasting relief.
- What treatments are there?
- Lifestyle measures, medicines like alpha-blockers, and surgical procedures when needed.
- Is it linked to ED?
- They often coexist in older men, and tadalafil can treat both.