Complications Of Prostate Enlargement
Benign prostate enlargement can lead to:
- A urinary tract infection
- Acute urinary retention a sudden inability to pass urine, which needs the insertion of a catheter to drain your bladder symptoms include severe lower tummy pain and swelling of the bladder to the point that you can feel it with your hands
- Chronic urinary retention only some of the urine in your bladder is passed when you urinate
Benign prostate enlargement does not increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Surgery Surgery Is Used To Treat Bph When Drug Therapy Stops Workingor To Treat Those Who Can’t Urinate At All It Can Also Be Used To Relievesevere Symptoms
Transurethral resection of the prostate
Transurethral resection of the prostate removesprostate tissue through the urethra. It is the surgery most commonly used totreat BPH. While TURP relieves urinary symptoms in most men, urinary problemscan come back over time if the prostate starts to grow again. This is why youngermen may need to have this surgery more than once.
This surgery is done in an operating room. The doctor passes a resectoscope through the urethra to reach the prostate. A resectoscope is a type of endoscope . It has a thin wire that carries an electric current. The doctor uses the electric current to cut away prostate tissue around the urethra. The doctor then removes this tissue through the resectoscope.
The most common side effects of TURP include:
In rare cases, you may develop erectile dysfunction orincontinence after TURP. But this surgery has a lower risk of these sideeffects than surgery to remove the prostate .
Read Real Stories Of Men Who Underwent Treatment Of Enlarged Prostate At New York Urology Specialists
We offer treatment for prostate problems, including slow urine stream, frequent urination at night, difficulty emptying the bladder, and other problems to patients within driving distance to our offices as well as from other states and countries. Our patients come from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and over 70 countries worldwide.
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How Is Bph Diagnosed And Evaluated
Early diagnosis of BPH is important because if left untreated it can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence. Distinguishing BPH from more serious diseases like prostate cancer is important.
Tests vary from patient to patient, but the following are the most common:
What Are The Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate
In many cases, that tubular opening of your prostate becomes tight and constricted when your gland enlarges. This leads to a restricted flow of urine. So, difficulty peeing is the most common sign of prostate problems, Dr. Ramin says.
In 2017, the American Urological Association created a seven-question symptom index for severity benign prostatic hyperplasia. How you answer themoptions include not at all, less than 1 time in 5, less than half the time, about half the time, more than half the time, and almost alwayscan help your doctor evaluate you.
The full questionnaire from the AUA is available here, but the symptoms include the following:
1. The sensation of not emptying your bladder when youre finished peeing
2. The need to pee again less than two hours after you finished urinating
3. Stopping and starting again several times when you urinated
4. The difficulty to postpone urination
5. Having a weak stream of urine
6. The need to push or strain to start to pee
7. Waking up often at night to pee
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Tests Used To Check The Prostate
This first step lets your doctor hear and understand the “story” of your prostate concerns. You’ll be asked whether you have symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and how much they affect your lifestyle. Your personal medical history also includes any risk factors, pain, fever, or trouble passing urine. You may be asked to give a urine sample for testing.
When Should I Call A Doctor
Your symptoms may not bother you too much. But itâs important to talk over any urinary problems with your doctor.
Itâs hard to predict how BPH will play out, and you canât assume that the problem will get better on its own. Your doctor also will want to rule out things that cause similar problems.
Some symptoms need quick medical attention. If you have any of these, call your doctor right away or head to an emergency room:
- You canât urinate at all.
- You have to pee frequently, itâs painful, and you have fever and chills.
- You have blood in your urine.
- You feel a great deal of pain in your lower belly and urinary tract.
Show Sources
National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases — Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Cleveland Clinic: Diseases and Conditions — Benign Prostatic Enlargement .
Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Mayo Clinic: Diseases and Conditions — Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia .
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Cost Of Enlarged Prostate Treatment Without Insurance
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer affordable treatment for men. Our prices are low for patients without insurance and for those who have high insurance copays, high deductibles, or insurance plans that do not cover treatment costs.
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee all-cost-included Rezum procedure. The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment. Please contact us for current prices and discounts for patients without insurance or with high insurance deductibles.
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee all-cost-included Urolift procedure. The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment.
How Is It Diagnosed
Your doctor can diagnose BPH by asking about your symptoms and health and by doing a physical examination. Tests may include a urine test and a digital rectal examination. This lets your doctor feel the size of your prostate. Sometimes a prostate-specific antigen test is done to help rule out prostate cancer.
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Signs Of Prostate Problems And Symptoms Of Bph
Risk factors for prostate enlargement include age, ethnicity, family history.
While an enlarged prostate doesnt necessarily mean you have prostate cancer, it could result from BPH .
An enlarged prostate can result in painful and embarrassing urinary problems. So to give you a hand, here are the 6 signs of prostate problems and symptoms of BPH to watch out for.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Urinary retention
Effective Energetic Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
Topics in this Post
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
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Treatment Of Of Prostate Enlargement
Men who arent too bothered by urinary symptoms of BPH may choose to do nothing or make lifestyle changes. Symptoms may be treated by lifestyle changes, medication or surgery.
Surgical procedures to treat BHP include:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate
- Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate .
Procedures like water vapour therapy or prostatic urethral lift can also be used to treat BPH.
TURP is the most common and best understood procedure used for BPH in Australia, but minimally invasive techniques are becoming more common3.
What Causes Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia is not well understood however, it occurs mainly in older men. Benign prostatic hyperplasia does not develop in men whose testicles were removed before puberty. For this reason, some researchers believe factors related to aging and the testicles may cause benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Throughout their lives, men produce testosterone, a male hormone, and small amounts of estrogen, a female hormone. As men age, the amount of active testosterone in their blood decreases, which leaves a higher proportion of estrogen. Scientific studies have suggested that benign prostatic hyperplasia may occur because the higher proportion of estrogen within the prostate increases the activity of substances that promote prostate cell growth.
Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone , a male hormone that plays a role in prostate development and growth. Some research has indicated that even with a drop in blood testosterone levels, older men continue to produce and accumulate high levels of DHT in the prostate. This accumulation of DHT may encourage prostate cells to continue to grow. Scientists have noted that men who do not produce DHT do not develop benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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Common Treatments For Enlarged Prostate
Treatment is unlikely to completely resolve all of your symptoms but can considerably improve them. The type of treatment you receive will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how much they affect your quality of life.
If you have mild symptoms, having no treatment may be a suitable option. You can see your doctor every year to review your symptoms or when your symptoms change. Symptoms do not always worsen and can improve on their own.
The main treatments are:
- Surgery and other medical procedures
You may be able to manage your symptoms through lifestyle changes alone, such as:
- Drinking less in the evenings and not drinking fluids at all two hours before you go to bed
- Eating more fibre a low-fibre diet can cause constipation, which can worsen your symptoms by putting pressure on your bladder
- Reducing alcohol, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and fizzy drinks these can irritate your bladder and worsen your symptoms
- Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles
- Wearing pads or a sheath inside your underwear to deal with leaks sheaths look like condoms but with a tube at the end that connects to a bag strapped to your leg under your clothing
You can also try changing your urinary habits:
If lifestyle changes arent enough, your GP may recommend medications, including:
You can also check with your GP that medications youre taking for other conditions are not worsening your symptoms.
Surgical procedures
Surgical procedures carried out on your prostate include:
Catheters
The Right Solution For Many Bph Patients
The UroLift®System treatment provides rapid relief and recovery for men living with symptoms of an enlarged prostate.1,9,10 It reopens the channel, with no cutting, burning or removal of prostate tissue.
Most men living with enlarged prostate symptoms take prescription medications after theyre diagnosed but these prescriptions often dont provide adequate relief and may cause dizziness, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction.2 Medications don’t need to become a lifelong burden and men dont need to wait until surgery is required to address the problem. With the UroLift System treatment, men suffering from BPH symptoms can avoid traditional surgery altogether.
1. Roehrborn et al. Can J Urol 2017
2. AUA Guidelines 2003, 2020
3. Wasson, Perspectives in Nursing 2000
4. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine TURP patient instructions
5. Sonksen, EU Urol, 2015 BPH6 Study
6. Berry, et al., J Urol 1984
7. U.S. Census Bureau – International Database by Region, Age and Year
8. Wei, JT et al., Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia 2007
9. Shore, Can J Urol 2014
10. Eure J Endourol 2019
11. McVary J Sex Med 2016
12. Roehrborn, J Urology, 2013
*No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction in the LIFT pivotal study
Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
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Symptoms Of Benign Prostate Enlargement
The symptoms of benign prostate enlargement are caused by the enlarged prostate placing pressure on the bladder and urethra .
This can affect urination in a number of ways. For example, it can:
- make it difficult for you to start urinating
- weaken the flow of urine or cause “stopping and starting”
- cause you to strain to pass urine
- cause you to need to urinate frequently
- cause you to wake up frequently during the night to urinate
- cause a sudden urge to urinate, which can result in urinary incontinence if you can’t find a toilet quickly enough
- cause you to not be able to empty your bladder fully
- cause blood in the urine
In the later stages, benign prostate enlargement can cause urine retention and other complications such as bladder stones, bladder infections and kidney damage.
What Is Prostate Enlargement
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the top part of the urethra , just under the base of the bladder. As men age, benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause prostate enlargement.
Prostate enlargement resulting from BPH is not the same as prostate cancer. On its own, BPH isnt anything to worry about, but its symptoms can cause considerable discomfort, inconvenience and reduced quality of life.
BPH becomes more common as men age. About 50% of all men aged over 50 have BPH, increasing to over 80% for men aged 80 or older1.
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Waking Up During The Night To Urinate
Waking up during the night to urinate, also known as nocturia, is a common, but very frustrating and disruptive symptom of BPH. This symptom is caused by the enlarged prostate closing off the urethra, making the bladder contract and work harder to push out urine. As a result, patients may feel an urgent need to urinate, especially at night.
How Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treated
Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia may include
- lifestyle changes
- minimally invasive procedures
A health care provider treats benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the severity of symptoms, how much the symptoms affect a mans daily life, and a mans preferences.
Men may not need treatment for a mildly enlarged prostate unless their symptoms are bothersome and affecting their quality of life. In these cases, instead of treatment, a urologist may recommend regular checkups. If benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms become bothersome or present a health risk, a urologist most often recommends treatment.
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What Other Problems Might An Enlarged Prostate Cause
A small number of men may find it difficult to empty their bladder properly this is called urine retention. If youve been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, your doctor will look at your test results to see if youre at risk of urine retention. You may be more likely to get urine retention if:
- youre aged 70 or over
- your prostate is very large
- you have a raised prostate specific antigen level
- you have severe urinary symptoms and a very slow flow.
Chronic urine retention
This is where you cant empty your bladder fully, but can still urinate a little. It usually develops slowly over time. Chronic means long-lasting. The first signs often include a weak flow when you urinate, or leaking urine at night. You may feel that your abdomen is swollen, or that youre not emptying your bladder fully.
Chronic urine retention is usually painless. But the pressure of the urine can slowly stretch your bladder muscle and make it weaker. This can cause urine to be left behind in the bladder when you urinate. If you dont empty your bladder fully, you might get a urine infection, need to urinate more often, leak urine at night, or get painful bladder stones. You might also see some blood in your urine. Chronic urine retention can damage your bladder and kidneys if it isnt treated.
There are several treatments for chronic urine retention, including:
- passing a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to drain urine from your bladder
- surgery to widen the urethra.
Acute urine retention
Treatment Option For Young Men With Bph
It is important to recognize that sometimes symptoms of an enlarged prostate are caused by temporary swelling of the prostate from infection or post-infectious inflammation. Sexually transmitted diseases or urethritis are often to blame and symptoms improve with treatment. Typically, these symptoms resolve over time as swelling from infection goes away. Surgical treatment is rarely needed unless a prostate abscess develops.
For younger men with an enlarged prostate that is caused by prostate growth rather than inflammation, a number of options are available.
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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 doesn’t 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 aren’t 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