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BPH Q & A
What is BPH?
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition where the prostate becomes enlarged and presses against the urethra, the tube that transports urine from your bladder through your penis and out of your body. This can block or narrow this tube, causing various bladder issues.
Because the prostate grows as men age, BPH is more common in older men and rarely an issue with men under 40. Half of men between 51 and 60 have BPH. In men 80 and over, 90% have BPH. BPH is not cancerous, and there are a number of treatment options that Dr. Cosgrove can walk you through to help treat BPH.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Primary symptoms of BPH are problems with urination, and these problems tend to get worse over time. Common BPH symptoms include:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Nocturia, the need to urinate frequently at night
- Difficulty urinating
- Weak urine stream
- Dribbling after urination
- Urinary urgency
- Trouble emptying your bladder
- Pain during urination
BPH can also lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI) and kidney problems.
How is BPH diagnosed?
Dr. Cosgrove begins with a physical exam and takes your medical history. Your exam may include the following tests to diagnose BPH and rule out other conditions:
- Digital rectal exam (DRE)
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer
- Urinalysis
- Blood test to test for kidney problems
- Ultrasound
What are the treatment options for BPH?
Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of your symptoms, age, and the size of your prostate. Dr. Cosgrove walks you through all your possible options and can help you decide which course of treatment is best for you. Common treatments for BPH include:
Medication
Medications such as alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and tadalafil (Cialis) can often treat mild to moderate BPH symptoms.
Non-surgical tissue reduction
Rezūm™ is a treatment that reduces the size of your prostate using water vapor (steam). Another non-surgical choice is transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT), which uses microwave energy to remove excess prostate tissue.
UroLift®
The UroLift procedure involves inserting small implants into your prostate to make more space for your urethra.
Prostate surgery
The two main kinds of BPH surgery are TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), where Dr. Cosgrove removes the prostate tissue that is blocking your urethra, and robotic prostatectomy, where some or all of your prostate is removed with the help of robotic technology.
If you are experiencing problems with urination or suspect you may have BPH, call Advantage Urology to book an appointment today.
