Is Enlarged Prostate a Sign of Cancer?

The exact cause of BPH remains unclear, but it predominantly affects older men. The progressive development of pathologic and clinical BPH is influenced by age, as nearly all men exhibit histological BPH as they age.

Hormones are also believed to contribute to BPH. Over the course of their lives, men produce both testosterone, a male hormone, and small quantities of estrogen, a female hormone. As men grow older, the active testosterone levels in their bloodstream decrease, resulting in a higher proportion of estrogen. Research studies have indicated that the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia might be linked to this elevated proportion of estrogen within the prostate, as it amplifies the activity of substances that stimulate the growth of prostate cells.

Another hypothesis centers around dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone pivotal to prostate development and growth. Some studies have suggested that even as blood testosterone levels decline, older men continue to generate and accumulate substantial amounts of DHT within the prostate. This accumulation of DHT could potentially foster the ongoing growth of prostate cells. Notably, men who do not produce DHT do not develop benign prostatic hyperplasia.

While aging and hormonal shifts are the primary drivers behind BPH development, data also indicates that prostate growth rates tend to be higher in BPH patients who have metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance syndrome, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL).