The causes of BPH

Testosterone makes the prostate grow.
To date, it is not clear why the benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH occurs shortly. The prostate gland develops at puberty under the influence of testosterone. After puberty, the growth stops and the prostate developed by then their shape and size of reserves.


The triggering factor is unknown.
From about the 50th Life begins at about half of all men have a excessive cell growth in the prostate. This cell growth is benign or benign. What this ultimately triggers cell growth is not yet clear beyond doubt. The cause three different theories are discussed.


Theory 1: The development thrust of embryonic stem cells.
Theory 1 states. that embryonic stem cells, which are also in adults within the prostate in old age a renewed surge in development. The impetus is the "male menopause," andropause-related decline in testosterone levels. Decreases the testosterone levels from age, so usually would decrease the size of the prostate. To prevent this solves the falling testosterone levels a renewed surge in growth from embryonic stem cells. Here, these cells fire in their propagation through the target and there is an over-sized prostate.


Theory 2: Estrogens trigger prostate growth.
The second theory is that estrogens are responsible for the increased growth of the prostate. Even when men produce small amounts of estrogen, specifically estradiol. Estrogens in the male body usually have little effect, because the effect of testosterone prevents or superimposed. Comes in the fall of andropause testosterone levels in the blood it a shift in the testosterone-estrogen ratio. This in turn should lead, according to theory, two, to a reactive overgrowth of prostate tissue.


Theory 3: "revival" is encouraged.
Finally, theory suggests three that the enlargement of the prostate comes about because a "reawakening" of the embryonic interaction between the stromal cells (supporting cells of the prostate gland) and glandular cells within the prostate is stimulated (see Anatomy of the prostate).


Consequences are mainly disturbances in bladder emptying.
Which of these three theories are true remains to be seen. Overall, however, one can safely say that the BPH is not the result of a specific individual changes in the organism of the aging male. She seems to be justified within the prostate, leading to increased cell growth by an interplay of various factors. While an enlarged prostate is not life threatening. But it can lead to significant problems with bladder emptying and untreated can result in progressive development of developing serious complications.