Which symptom is commonly associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?</n>

• A. Bladder distention.
• B. Frequent stopping and starting of urinary stream.
• C. Straining while urinating.
• D. Dribbling at the end of urination.

Answer: (B)

When the prostate enlarges, it narrows the urethral passage and creates resistance to urine flow. The bladder must work harder to push urine through this narrowed channel, and as it contracts, the path ahead is intermittently blocked by the enlarged tissue. That tug-of-war produces a stream that starts, halts, and then may start again—so a pattern of stopping and starting during urination becomes a common and characteristic symptom of BPH.

You’ll also see other lower urinary tract symptoms in BPH, like a weaker or slower stream, difficulty starting, a sense of incomplete emptying, nocturnal urination, or dribbling at the end of urination. However, the stop-and-start pattern specifically reflects the intermittent obstruction caused by the enlarged prostate, making it a particularly telling sign.