An enlarged prostate can be divided into two types, one is a blockage type, and the other one is a hyperplastic type. With the blockage type of an enlarged prostate, prostate cells are enlarged, but the number of cells do not increase because of the actual blockage, prostate congestion and swelling. This causes various kinds of prostate diseases (such as prostatitis, prostate cysts, prostate nodules, prostate calcification, etc.) and various stimulant factors (like frequent sex and masturbation, chronic long-term drinking, too spicy food or too much stimulant food, etc.) which press on the posterior urethra and the surrounding blood vessels and nerves and cause urinary problems and sexual dysfunction. This can happen to any man at any age after puberty. A principle of treatment should be making an accurate diagnosis thus identifying all causes and clearing the prostate blockage. NB: using alpha blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors normally does not work; on the contrary, they have a lot of side effects including decreased libido, and ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction.

The Hyperplastic type of an enlarged prostate means prostatic cells are enlarged and the number of cells increase mainly due to an age-related sex hormone imbalance, generally from 50 years of age, on. The use of alpha blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors can improve the symptoms, but they cannot control the development of prostatic hyperplasia. Once the medication is stopped, symptoms will become more serious. In the end, patients will likely need surgical intervention which can lead to the debilitating consequences of an inability to ejaculate and/or incontinence.