Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Reproductive · ~7% of blueprint

Pathophysiology: Age-related prostate stromal/epithelial hyperplasia → bladder outlet obstruction.
Signs & Symptoms: Lower urinary tract symptoms — hesitancy, weak stream, nocturia, incomplete emptying; smooth enlarged prostate.
Gold Standard Diagnosis: Clinical + DRE (smooth, enlarged); AUA symptom score, urinalysis, PVR; PSA if cancer suspected or pre-5-ARI.
First-line Treatment: Alpha-blocker (tamsulosin) for symptoms; 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (finasteride) to shrink the gland.

High-Yield Pearl

Alpha-blockers relax the prostate quickly; 5-ARIs shrink it over months (and lower PSA ~50%).

Sources

Reviewed September 2026

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