The BPH medical abbreviation stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland that is very common as men age. Benign means it is not cancer, and hyperplasia means an increase in the number of cells.
Because the prostate wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, an enlarged gland can squeeze that tube and change how urination feels. That is why BPH so often appears next to LUTS, lower urinary tract symptoms, in urology and primary care notes. The sections below cover the parts of the name, how BPH reads in a chart, and the tests and terms that travel with it.
At a glance
Stands for
Benign prostatic hyperplasiaAlso written
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (older, less exact)Used in
Urology, primary care, geriatrics, pharmacyWhere you see it
Problem lists, urology notes, medication lists, ultrasound reportsDo not confuse with
Prostate cancer, which is a separate condition; BPH is not cancerSpecialty
Urology (GU)
Word roots inside the BPH medical abbreviation
| Part | Root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Benign | From a word for kind or gentle | Not cancer, does not spread |
| Prostatic | Prostate | Relating to the prostate gland |
| Hyper | Prefix meaning over or above | More than normal |
| Plasia | Suffix meaning formation or growth | Growth of cells |
Older notes sometimes say benign prostatic hypertrophy. Hypertrophy means cells get bigger, while hyperplasia means there are more of them, which better describes what happens in the prostate. Both expand to the same letters.
Symptoms that BPH notes describe
Urinary symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate fall into two groups that clinicians track.
- Voiding or emptying symptoms: weak stream, hesitancy, straining, dribbling at the end, a feeling of not emptying fully.
- Storage symptoms: frequency, urgency, and nocturia, which means waking at night to urinate.
Prostate size does not always match how bothersome symptoms are. Some men with large glands have few symptoms, and others with small glands have many. A symptom score questionnaire is often used to track change over time. Not being able to urinate at all, called urinary retention, needs prompt medical care.
Decoding BPH in a urology note
Clinic note: "66M with BPH, worsening nocturia x3 and weak stream. DRE: smooth, enlarged, nontender. PSA 2.1. PVR 150 mL. UA negative."
In plain language: a 66 year old man with known benign prostate enlargement wakes three times a night to urinate and has a weak stream. On a digital rectal exam the prostate felt smooth and enlarged without tenderness. His PSA blood test result is listed, about 150 milliliters of urine stayed in the bladder after he voided, and a urine test showed no infection. Reference ranges for PSA vary by age and lab, so the value is interpreted by the clinician.
Common treatments listed with BPH
Plans range from watchful waiting with simple habits, such as cutting back on fluids before bed, to medicines and procedures. Medicine groups that often appear include alpha blockers such as tamsulosin, which relax muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride, which can shrink the gland over months. Procedures include transurethral resection of the prostate, often written TURP, and several less invasive options. A continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) may be charted after some prostate surgeries. The choice belongs to the patient and urologist together.
BPH compared with similar urinary terms
| Term | Meaning | Link to BPH |
|---|---|---|
| LUTS | Lower urinary tract symptoms | A symptom group BPH often causes |
| OAB | Overactive bladder | Urgency from the bladder itself, can overlap |
| PSA | Prostate specific antigen | A blood test that BPH can raise |
| PVR | Post void residual | Volume remaining in the bladder after urinating |
For more conditions abbreviated on problem lists, visit the diagnosis abbreviations hub.
Questions that help at an appointment
- Are my symptoms from the prostate, the bladder or both?
- Do any of my current medicines, such as cold remedies, affect urination?
- What are the side effects of the options you suggest?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
This guide covers the meaning and charting of BPH only. Urinary changes are worth raising with a primary care clinician or urologist, who can sort out the cause.
Frequently asked questions
What does BPH mean in medical terms?
BPH means benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. It is very common in older men and can cause urinary symptoms.
Is BPH a form of prostate cancer?
No. BPH is benign, meaning not cancer, and it does not turn into cancer. The two conditions can exist at the same time, which is why clinicians may check for both.
What is the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy?
Hyperplasia means an increase in the number of cells, and hypertrophy means existing cells get larger. BPH is more accurately described as hyperplasia, though both words are seen.
Why is PSA checked in someone with BPH?
An enlarged prostate can raise PSA, and PSA is also used when evaluating prostate cancer. Your clinician decides when the test is useful and how to read the result.