Prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause problems with urination that many men find frustrating. Could yoga help manage the symptoms of this condition?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is caused by changes in hormone levels as a man gets older. It is a normal part of the aging process and is not dangerous.

Even so, the problems an enlarged prostate can cause are irritating, and many men look for ways that they can improve their symptoms.

This article explores how yoga may help manage prostate enlargement and details the different poses that may help.

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?

BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland.

The prostate is a small gland, about the size of a walnut, that is part of a man’s reproductive system. It surrounds the urethra, which is a tube that takes urine out of the body from the bladder.

When the prostrate becomes enlarged, it puts pressure on the urethra. This may make it harder for a man to urinate.

Men with BPH may find:

it is harder to start and stop urinating
their stream of urine is not as strong as it used to be
they feel like they need to urinate often
they still feel like they need to go again after urinating
How might yoga help?
A 2006 studyTrusted Source showed that exercise could help reduce the risk of BPH. Doing exercise such as yoga may be helpful in preventing the condition.

Yoga may also help improve the symptoms of BPH, as it can help exercise and strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor. In a 2011 studyTrusted Source, researchers found that yogic practices improved muscle strength.

Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and reducing pelvic tension can help improve bladder control, making it easier to urinate.

The same study showed that yoga might help to reduce stress, and stress is believed to make the symptoms of BPH worse. Reducing stress through yoga means BPH symptoms are less likely to be aggravated.