An enlarged prostate is common in older men. Doctors refer to this condition as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. More than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which often involve problems with urination. In many cases, an enlarged prostate does not require treatment in its early stages. If treatment is necessary, it may involve surgery or medications.