A lot of things can impact how well you sleep, and sleep quality tends to diminish with age for a lot of people. In ageing men (and their partners), prostate problems are a major contributor to sleep disruption, and scientists have found a link between snoring and benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a common medical issue in older men.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Benign prostatic hypertension (BPH) affects 60% of men by age 60 and 80% of men at age 80. It causes urinary symptoms that result in waking multiple times each night.
- Sleep quality and BPH each influence the other: BPH symptoms disrupt sleep, while poor sleep patterns increase the risk of developing BPH.
- Snoring and sleep apnoea can both worsen BPH symptoms and further hinder sleep quality.
- Lifestyle changes, preventing snoring by using the right mouthguard for sleep, treating sleep apnoea, and treating BPH can all significantly improve both sleep quality and BPH symptoms.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate is a small gland in the male body and part of the reproductive system. In younger men, it is the size and shape of a walnut. It sits just below the bladder and in front of the rectum (the lower part of the colon or large bowel). The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and sperm from the testes to the penis and outside of the body) passes through the prostate.
The role of the prostate is to produce much of the seminal fluid, which, combined with fluids from other glands and sperm cells from the testes, makes semen.
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
The prostate naturally enlarges with age, usually starting between the ages of 40 and 50 years. Benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH) is the medical term for an enlarged prostate. BPH is by far the most common prostate condition in males, with almost all affected to some extent over time: 50% of males aged in their 50s are affected, 60% by age 60, and by age 80, this is 80%.
The cause of BPH isn’t well understood, though scientists believe changing hormone levels may drive it. Risks are greater for males who have a family history of BPH and are older than 50 years. The condition also has potential links with male pattern baldness, smoking/vaping, testosterone supplementation, and metabolic syndrome, which is driven by insulin resistance.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
An enlarged prostate can put pressure on the bladder and urethra, and squeeze or block the urethra, preventing the easy passage of urine and ejaculate.
Symptoms include:
- Needing to get up during the night to urinate (“nocturia”)
- Urinary urgency (sudden need to go immediately and without warning)
- Urinary frequency (needing to go more often)
- Straining to urinate
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Weak or slow urine stream
- Stopping/starting when urinating
- Dribbling at the end of urinating
- A feeling of being unable to fully empty the bladder
- Diminished bladder control – incontinence/leaking
- Pain while urinating
- Pain after ejaculating
While BPH is not cancerous, it has similar symptoms that may indicate a more serious issue, such as prostatitis (inflammation) or cancer. It’s also possible to have BPH and prostatitis or prostate cancer at the same time, so it’s extremely important to see your GP for a checkup. You must do so urgently if you are unable to pass urine, have blood in the urine, have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (e.g. burning when urinating, fever), or a personal history or family history of prostate cancer.
Untreated BPH can cause other health problems, including an overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, urinary retention, and bladder stones.
There is no evidence that having BPH increases the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Every biological male should have regular prostate screening performed every two years (unless otherwise medically advised). For most men, this is a simple blood test.
How Does BPH Affect Sleep?
Understandably, the common symptoms associated with BPH can be extremely disruptive to a good night’s sleep, including waking multiple times during the night to urinate. Frequent waking and getting out of bed can also be disruptive to your partner’s sleep. Disrupted sleep brings its own issues – including mood issues, daytime fatigue, stress, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, memory issues, and a higher risk of being in an accident.
- More than 80% of men over the age of 50 wake up to urinate at least once every night.
- Scientists have found a definite link between worse sleep quality and a higher incidence of BPH among men of middle age and older age.
- A 2024 study analysis in the UK Biobank indicated an association between healthy sleep patterns and a lower BPH risk – signifying that not only does BPH impact sleep quality, but that sleep quality influences the development of BPH.
What about snoring? Of participants in a study published in the European Urology Journal, snorers tended to have higher Body Mass Index and also urinated more often and with higher urinary volume overnight. They also exhibited higher rates of snoring and sleep apnoea episodes.
BPH symptoms can be worsened by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and moderate to severe snoring. The frequent arousals from sleep due to OSA can encourage full waking to urinate, setting in place a pattern that diminishes the amount of quality sleep attained each night.
Tips for Living Better and Sleeping Better With BPH
- Get plenty of exercise
- Reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol (especially in the evening)
- Hydrate well during the day, but drink less fluid at night
- Avoid acidic, salty, and spicy foods (these can irritate the bladder)
- Avoid constipation and treat it if it occurs
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Eat a healthy diet rich in berries, broccoli, tomatoes, nuts, and turmeric
- Perform pelvic floor exercises and bladder training (a physiotherapist can help)
- Consider using incontinence underwear if necessary (especially overnight) to help manage leakage
- Treat snoring with the right snoring aids and be medically assessed to rule out obstructive sleep apnoea if your snoring is habitual and severe.
Treatment for BPH can vary. Some men will need to just take a “watchful waiting” approach and make some simple lifestyle changes. Your GP may prescribe certain medications or alter your usual medicines.
For some men, undergoing laser therapy or a procedure called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be a very successful approach to resolve symptoms. This surgical procedure removes the excess prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine.
Reduce Snoring for a Better Night’s Sleep
Poor sleep quality can contribute to an enlarged prostate, and an enlarged prostate causes poorer sleep quality. Using an anti-snoring mouthpiece is a great idea for anyone who snores – and it’s potentially even more beneficial for men who have issues associated with an enlarged prostate.
SnoreMD is a revolutionary mouthguard for sleep that is highly effective, safe to use, convenient, reusable, and budget friendly. Australian-made and owned, this anti-snoring device gently positions the lower jaw forward during sleep and is micro-adjustable to the position that is right for you. It addresses the user’s snoring issues by opening the airways and limiting the vibrations of the soft tissues in the mouth and throat that cause snoring.
Sleep better in 2026! Try SnoreMD for yourself.
With a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month manufacturer warranty, it’s well worth giving this popular snoring solution a go.
Flash Sale!