Treatment Options For Enlarged Prostate

Table 2 Questions Your Doctor Will Likely Ask About Your Symptoms*:

*List is adapted from the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire.

Your doctor might also perform a digital rectal exam to assess the size and firmness of your prostate and to check for the presence of lumps that might be an indication of prostate cancer, and/or discuss doing a blood test for prostate cancer, called the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA test. But you should know that there is considerable disagreement not only about the usefulness of these procedures but also whether they should be performed at all. For example, the U.S. Preventive

Treatment options

What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

• How can you tell that I have BPH?
• If I dont have BPH, what other condition might I have?
• What can I do to help reduce the size of my prostate?
• Do I need treatment?
• Whats the best treatment for me?
• What supplements do you recommend?
• Will these supplements affect any other medications or supplements that Im taking?
• Should I see a urologist?

What Is The Difference Between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia And Benign Prostatic Enlargement

BPH is the name of a condition that causes your prostate to increase in size.

Benign prostatic enlargement is a term that healthcare providers use to describe the increased size of your prostate gland due to BPH.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a very common condition that affects men and people assigned male at birth. BPH usually develops around the age of 55. If you have mild BPH, you and your healthcare provider may choose to monitor your symptoms through regular appointments. If BPH affects your quality of life, treatments can help shrink your prostate.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of BPH. Together, you can discuss the best course of action.

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What Are Your Options When Medication Does Not Work

Most men stop getting taller around age 18, but after 40, they often begin growing elsewhere particularly in their prostate gland. Benign prostatic hyperplasia , also known as an enlarged prostate, affects about 50 percent of men ages 51 to 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80.

As the prostate grows, it presses on the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body . For about half of men with BPH, this causes urination problems. Common issues include a hesitant, interrupted, or weak urine stream dribbling after urinating a feeling the bladder does not completely empty and more frequent urination. Some men also experience urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence, the involuntary discharge of urine.

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Tips For Coping With An Enlarged Prostate

When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia and it is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is a benign condition that does not lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.

Although 50% to 60% of men with BPH may never develop any symptoms, others find that BPH can make life miserable. The symptoms of BPH include:

• a hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
• urgency, leaking, or dribbling
• a sense of incomplete emptying
• more frequent urination, especially at night.

As a result, many men seek treatment. The good news is that treatments are constantly being improved. Patients and their physicians now have more medications to choose from, so if one doesnt do the trick, another can be prescribed. And thanks to some refinements, surgical treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects than ever before.

But there are some things men dealing with BPH can do on their own. When symptoms are not particularly bothersome, watchful waiting may be the best way to proceed. This involves regular monitoring to make sure complications arent developing, but no treatment. For more troubling symptoms, most doctors begin by recommending a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Often this will be enough to relieve the worst symptoms and prevent the need for surgery

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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Developing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The best ways to reduce your risk of developing BPH are to make lifestyle changes that improve your prostate and heart health and take supplements.

Exercising at least 30 minutes each day may help prevent BPH or slow prostate growth. Maintaining normal cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels is also important.

The following herbal supplements may also help reduce your risk of developing BPH:

• Beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol is a micronutrient in plants that may help keep your heart healthy.
• Pygeum africanum. Pygeum africanum is an herbal extract from African cherry tree bark that may help shrink your prostate.
• Flaxseed. Flax is a good source of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids that may help lower your cholesterol.
• Pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil comes from pumpkin seeds. It may help shrink your prostate.

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any new supplements. They may adversely react to other supplements or medications youre currently taking.

Drugs Can Often Help But Sometimes Surgery Is Needed

As men age, they often experience a new kind of growth spurt, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate gland.

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Signs You Should See A Urologist

An enlarged prostate obstructs the bladder opening and can lead to a myriad of bothersome urinary symptoms. Symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, a weak or slow urine stream, incomplete bladder emptying, difficulty or delay in starting urination and a urine stream that stops and starts. Its important to see a physician if any of these problems arise or persist.

Enlarged prostate can also cause loss of productivity and sleep and, in some cases, can lead to depression. According to a survey sponsored by NeoTract, one of the most common symptoms of BPH interrupted sleep is also impacting mens partners. Sixty-four percent of women surveyed who were affected by their partners BPH symptoms said it impacts their sleep, too.

Questions To Ask Yourself About Enlarged Prostate Treatment

When you discuss the treatment options for an enlarged prostate with your doctor, keep these points in mind:

• How much are my symptoms bothering me?
• Do they keep me from doing things I enjoy?
• How long do I want to deal with them?
• Am I willing to accept small risks to improve my symptoms?
• Do I understand the risks?
• Am I ready to do something about this problem?

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How Effective Is Pae

PAE is a new and promising procedure. In a study published in 2016, 630 patients underwent a prostate artery embolization procedure. The study found that the procedure had a positive effect on urinary symptoms as well as overall quality of life. This positive effect lasted 1-3 years in 82% of the patients and lasted 3-7 years in 76% of the patients. Additionally, there was no urinary incontinence or sexual dysfunction reported.

With the high success rate of PAE, men ineligible for surgery are able improve their quality of life by eliminating or reducing uncomfortable BPH symptoms. Be sure to speak to your urologist to help determine the best approach for you.

How Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, ask you questions and perform a physical examination. Part of the physical exam involves a digital rectal exam.

During a digital rectal exam, your healthcare provider will carefully insert their gloved digit into your rectum. Theyll feel the edges and surface of your prostate, estimate the size of your prostate and detect any hard areas that could be cancer.

Your healthcare provider may also order:

• A survey to evaluate the severity of your symptoms.
• A urine flow test to measure the speed of your pee stream.
• A study to detect how much pee remains in your bladder after youve finished peeing.
• A cystoscopy to look into your bladder.

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How Common Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. In 2010, as many as 14 million men in the United States had lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia.1 Although benign prostatic hyperplasia rarely causes symptoms before age 40, the occurrence and symptoms increase with age. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects about 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80.2

Holmium Laser Enucleation Of The Prostate

As the name suggests, a holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is similar to the HoLAP procedure in that it uses a holmium laser to reduce the size of high-volume enlarged prostate. However, during this procedure, the excess tissue is enucleated rather than ablated . This means that the separated tissue will be removed using a second instrument. This allows a pathologist to further inspect affected tissue and test for prostate cancer. Although rare, it has been found that about 5% to 10% of men who need to undergo surgery for enlarged prostate have the presence of prostate cancer in tissues. This allows for swift treatment and a stronger prognosis.

If youre experiencing any symptoms of high-volume enlarged prostate, dont hesitate to schedule an appointment with your urologist. Getting the proper diagnosis is essential to addressing any underlying causes and finding relief from your symptoms. For more information on improving your urologic health, or for support of common urologic conditions like enlarged prostate, contact Byram Healthcare today.

Byram Healthcare is a member of the National Association for Continences Trusted Partners Program, whose mission is to provide quality continence care through education, collaboration and advocacy. We continue to build partnerships in the clinical community to ensure we focus on whats best for the patient.

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Assessing The Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate

To help your doctor understand how bothersome enlarged prostate symptoms are for you, the American Urological Association has developed a BPH Symptom Index. This is a brief questionnaire that asks about specific symptoms and how frequently they occur. Each answer is assigned a number — and your total is ranked on a scale ranging from mild to severe.

A score of 0 to 7 is considered a mild symptom score 8 or over is considered moderate to severe.

The AUA recommends the following treatment for an enlarged prostate based on the severity of symptoms:

• Mild symptoms that don’t bother you : If you are not bothered by your symptoms, and they don’t affect your daily life, watchful waiting is the best option for you. You should get regular checkups to make sure that you are not developing complications.
• Moderate to severe symptoms : If you are not bothered by your symptoms, you may choose watchful waiting. However, if your symptoms do start to interfere, you may choose medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery.
• Moderate to severe symptoms with complications: If symptoms are bothersome and you have developed complications such as inability to urinate, you may need a catheter, surgery, or other treatment.

What Are The Warning Signs Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Your prostate surrounds your urethra. When BPH causes your prostate to grow, it can cause blockage in your urethra. As a result, early symptoms of BPH include:

• Slowness or dribbling when you pee.
• Difficulty starting to pee.

• Kidney damage due to pee backflow from your bladder up to your kidney. The pee backflow increases pressure on your kidney.

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Using Pads Or A Sheath

Absorbent pads and pants can be worn inside your underwear, or may replace your underwear altogether. These will soak up any leaks.

Urinary sheaths can also help with dribbling. They look like condoms with a tube coming out of the end. The tube connects to a bag that you can strap to your leg under your clothing.

Should I Go With A Treatment

If your symptoms become worse, it’s time to talk to your doctor about an active treatment. Some things to ask yourself and your doctor about each option:

• How much will my condition improve?
• How long will the effects last?
• Is there a chance that the treatment will cause problems?

From there, you can talk with them about medications, supplements or surgery.

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Effective Energetic Treatment For Enlarged Prostate

Topics in this Post

• Prostate Health

Enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia , is a common condition as men get older. By age 60, about 30% of men show moderate to severe symptoms of BPH by age 80, it is 50%. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as a weak urine stream, urine stream that starts and stops, frequently getting up at night to urinate, and inability to void the bladder.

There are many different treatment options for BPH, ranging from behavior medications to surgery. A minimally invasive option is bipolar enucleation of the prostate, or BipoLEP. If you are considering treatment, here’s what you need to know.

Prostate anatomy

The prostate is a small organ that sits at the bottom of the bladder. The urethra, the tube the drains the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate.

Early in a mans life, the prostate is roughly the size of a walnut or a small tangerine. Often around 50, the prostate increases in size. For some men, this change closes off the urethra and makes it more difficult for the bladder to empty.

The prostate has two parts. The adenoma is the inner part that surrounds urethra. It is the part of the prostate that grows as men get older. The capsule is the outer part of the prostate and does not change in size over the course of life. A good analogy is to think of an orange. The orange peel represents the capsule, and the fruit represents the adenoma.

Removal of prostate tissue

Procedure

How Is Benign Prostate Enlargement Diagnosed

If your GP suspects that you have an enlarged prostate, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess your symptoms.

Each question has five possible answers that carry a score, and your overall score indicates the severity of your symptoms.

Your GP will also want to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms to prostate enlargement.

You may have a number of standard tests, such as urine tests, plus some more specific tests, such as a blood test that measures PSA.

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Lifestyle Tips For Managing Bph

People can take steps to manage the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. These include:

• attempting to urinate at least once before leaving the home to avoid urinary leakage or other potentially stressful incidents in public
• double voiding, which involves trying to urinate a few minutes after urinating the first time to drain the bladder as much as possible during bathroom visits
• trying not to drink fluids in the 2 hours before bedtime to avoid going to sleep with a full bladder

Most males have a 50% chance of having BPH by the age of 60 years and a 90% chance by the age of 85 years.

Limited research has associated BPH with an increased risk of prostate cancer and bladder cancer, with the risk of prostate cancer being particularly high in Asian people with BPH. However, the limitations of the included studies mean that there is a need for additional prospective studies with a strict design to confirm the findings.

Several types of foods and nutrients can reduce or trigger BPH and its associated symptoms.

Foods that may be beneficial for people with BPH include:

• fiber-rich foods, such as whole grains, legumes, beans, and dark, leafy greens
• fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, which are usually dark red, yellow, or orange
• foods rich in zinc, such as eggs, most types of seafood, and nuts
• products that contain phytoestrogens, such as soy foods, chickpeas, alfalfa, and fava beans

Foods that people with BPH, or those at risk of developing it, should avoid or limit include:

Causes Of Benign Prostate Enlargement

The exact cause of benign prostate enlargement is unknown, but research suggests that hormones probably play an important role in the condition’s development.

Hormones are powerful chemicals that can have a wide range of effects on the cells of the body.

One theory is that as some men and anyone with a prostate gets older, the levels of a type of hormone called dihydrotestosterone increases, which may stimulate the growth of the prostate.

Another theory suggests that two hormones, testosterone and oestrogen, play a role. Younger men and anyone with a prostate produce high levels of testosterone and much smaller levels of oestrogen. But as they get older, levels of testosterone decrease, which means they then have a higher proportion of oestrogen in their body. It’s been suggested that the relative increase in oestrogen may stimulate prostate growth.

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