An enlarged prostate
is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign
prostatic hypertrophy. Prostate enlargement happens to a large
proportion of men as they get older. The prostate gland sits
like a donut around the urethra (the tube through which the urine
passes) and below the bladder. As the gland grows, it can press
on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems. BPH
is not cancer and does not raise your risk for developing prostate
cancer.
Generally half of all men with BPH have symptoms of
the disease, which include:
• Slowed or delayed start of
the urinary stream
• Weak urine stream
• Incomplete emptying of your bladder
• Dribbling at the end of urinating
• Inability to urinate (urinary retention)
• Straining to urinate
• Incontinence
• Needing to urinate two or more times per night
• Pain with urination or bloody urine (these may indicate
infection)
• Strong and sudden urge to urinate
Symptomatic patients are initially started
on medication which is often helpful. There are two classes of
medication which help men with BPH. The first class helps to relax
the prostate and urethra to make it easier to urinate; the second
class shrinks the prostate over time.
For patients who do not get sufficient
relief from medication or do not want to remain on medication indefinitely,
there are other options. These include GreenLight™ Laser
Therapy and Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy.
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