AR and benign prostatic hyperplasia: That is, the inhibition of autophagy can induce cell apoptosis or death.10 Another study has also shown that hypoxia‐induced autophagy promotes the survival of human prostatic cells.11 Bennett et al found that the blockade of androgen/AR signalling in prostate epithelial cells leads to increased autophagy.12 Furthermore, the expression of autophagy‐related genes is higher in prostate epithelial cells after reducing androgen levels.13 Thus, we hypothesized that autophagy might lead to prostate epithelial cell proliferation and BPH progression after long‐term 5‐ARI treatment.