Symptom
Can an Enlarged Prostate Cause Constipation? The Real Link
An enlarged prostate is not a known cause of constipation, but constipation can worsen urinary symptoms. The study, the medicines behind both, what helps.
Independent health guides for men over 45
What your prostate symptoms mean and what to do next
An enlarged prostate (BPH) affects 29 to 33 percent of men 65 and older, according to the NIH. Pick the symptom that brought you here: each guide explains what it usually means, what's worth trying first and when to call a doctor, checked against NIH, AUA and MedlinePlus sources.
- Primary medical sources, linked
- No sponsored rankings
- Rechecked every 90 days
Start here
Start with your symptom
Pick the one that sounds most like you. Each guide explains the usual causes, a simple check you can do at home, and the signs that mean it is time to see a doctor.
Symptom
Weak or slow stream
Why the flow slows after 50, a two-minute home check, and what helps first.
Read the guide
Symptom
Waking up at night to pee
Once a night is common after 50. Twice or more is where doctors start to look closer.
Read the guide
Symptom
Bladder never feels empty
That not-quite-finished feeling, what usually causes it, and when it needs a check.
Read the guide
Symptom
Dribbling after you finish
Why a few drops still come after you zip up, and the simple habits that reduce it.
Read the guide
Symptom
Sudden urges that are hard to hold
When the urge comes fast and strong: prostate, bladder, or both.
Read the guide
Symptom
Going too often during the day
How often is too often, and the daytime causes that are easy to miss.
Read the guide
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Latest guides
One symptom or question at a time, written for men over 45 and the people who look things up for them.
Next steps
Pumpkin Seed Oil for Enlarged Prostate: Seeds vs Oil, Dose
Pumpkin seed oil or whole seeds for an enlarged prostate? In the largest trial the seeds beat placebo and the extract did not. Doses, kitchen math, limits.
Symptom
Can an Enlarged Prostate Cause Back Pain? Red Flags to Know
An enlarged prostate rarely causes back pain by itself. Which back pain and urinary combinations are emergencies, and which point to the kidney or spine.
Next steps
How Long Does Saw Palmetto Take to Work for the Prostate?
Saw palmetto trials ran 8 weeks to 72 weeks. What each one found week by week, why placebo caught up, and a 12-week test to see if it works for you.
Symptom
Prostate Size by Age Chart: What the Studies Measured
Normal prostate size by age from studies that measured it: about 23 mL in your 40s to 36 mL in your 70s, how fast it grows, and why size is not a verdict.
Next steps
Saw Palmetto With Tamsulosin, Finasteride or Blood Thinners
Can you take saw palmetto with tamsulosin, finasteride or warfarin? What trials and case reports found for each, the PSA catch, and what to ask first.
Guide photos on this page: Gabecollett, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Why you can trust this site
Who writes this, and how we check it
Health information for men over 45 should be easy to read and easy to verify. Here is exactly how this site works.
Who writes
Alice Hess, health researcher
Alice started researching prostate health for her father. At 76 he was getting up several times a night, and what she found helped him sleep through the night again. Now she reads the clinical studies and the medical guidelines, then turns them into guides you can actually use, with every source linked so you can check it yourself.
How we review
Every claim traced back to a primary source
- We start from medical guidelines and published studies, not press releases or product pages.
- Numbers are checked against the original source, and the source is linked next to the claim.
- Each guide is rechecked every 90 days, and corrections are dated on the page.
Sources we use
Where our facts come from
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)Including NIDDK, the institute that covers the prostate and bladder.
- American Urological Association (AUA)The clinical guidelines U.S. urologists follow.
- MedlinePlusPatient health information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- CochraneSystematic reviews that pool the results of many trials.
How we pay for this site
An honest word about money
Some guides end with a link to one of our product reviews. If you buy through a link on a review page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Symptom guides never contain buy links, no company pays to be featured, and a commission never changes what the research says.
Everyday health after 45
Five habits worth building for your prostate
Small, low-risk routines that medical sources recommend for men with urinary symptoms, and a sensible check-up plan.
01Walk most days
Staying active is on the self-care list for an enlarged prostate. MedlinePlus notes that lack of physical activity, and cold weather, may make urinary symptoms worse.
Sources: MedlinePlus; NIDDK
02Train your pelvic floor
Kegel exercises help men as well as women with urine leakage. The usual routine: tighten for 3 to 5 seconds, relax for 3 to 5 seconds, 10 times, three times a day.
Source: MedlinePlus
03Ask about a PSA test before you are asked
Guidelines differ on timing, so bring it up yourself. The AUA suggests most men discuss a baseline PSA between 45 and 50, and earlier with Black ancestry or a strong family history.
Source: American Urological Association
04Eat so you are not straining
No single food has been shown to shrink the prostate. What helps is ordinary: enough fiber from vegetables, fruit and whole grains to prevent constipation, which puts extra pressure on the bladder.
Source: NIDDK
05Time your drinks
Spread fluids through the day instead of drinking a lot at once, go easy on alcohol and caffeine after dinner, and stop drinking about 2 hours before bed.
Source: MedlinePlus