As men age, prostate cells tend to grow. As the prostate enlarges, it squeezes the urethra, which can constrict the normal flow of urine out of the body and cause many of the same urinary problems as prostate cancer does. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Although BPH can be painful and may be severe enough to require treatment, it is a relatively common problem in men over 50 and is rarely life-threatening.
