Effects of exercise on benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, and erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause a decrease in quality of life for many patients. These conditions are often primarily managed with lifestyle changes, one of them being exercise. Exercise plays a role in BPH by modifying gene expression and inflammatory states that can lead to stromal cell proliferation and prostate enlargement. Similarly, the etiology of ED can be multifactorial, and exercise can manage many of the risk factors for ED by improving endothelial function. Overall, it is apparent that exercise has a beneficial role in both conditions and can also lead to quality of life improvement. The relationship between sleep and these conditions is also explored and demonstrates that sleep may be helpful in decreasing lower urinary tract symptoms and managing ED and BPH.