BPH (BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA)

BPH (BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA)

Overview and Facts

A common condition that men have as they get older is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate gland enlargement. Uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as impaired flow of urine out of the bladder, can be attributed to an enlarged prostate gland. It can also cause kidney, bladder, or urinary tract problems.

Medications, minimally invasive therapies, and surgery are some of the treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Your doctor will consider your other health conditions, your symptoms, the size of your prostate, and your preferences to choose the best treatment option.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms tend to progress and worsen over time. In people who have (BPH) benign prostatic hyperplasia

, the severity of symptoms varies. Symptoms include the following:

  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Dribbling at the end of urination
  • Frequent or urgent need to urinate
  • Inability to empty the bladder
  • Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
  • Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts

The severity of your symptoms doesn’t necessarily depend on the size of your prostate. Some men with very enlarged prostates may have only minor urinary symptoms, while other men with only slightly enlarged prostates can have significant symptoms

Over time, symptoms eventually become stable and might even improve in some men.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

 

Your doctor will evaluate your medical history and perform a physical examination. The tests that your doctor will likely perform are:

  • Blood test
  • Digital rectal exam. To check your prostate for enlargementyour doctor will insert his finger into your rectum
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
  • Urine test

TREATMENT

Your doctor may prescribe the following types of medications when BPH becomes more advanced. These reduces the symptoms of BPH and can help control the growth of the prostate. These include:

  • Alpha-blockers
  • Alpha-reductase inhibitors.
  • Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors
  • Combination medications. Your doctor might recommend combining different kinds of medications to get a synergistic effect.

Surgery

A doctor may recommend surgery if pharmacological treatment has failed to improve the symptoms of BPH.

Surgical options for BPH include:

  • Laser surgery
  • Open prostatectomy
  • Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)
  • TURP

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