An enlarged prostate is a common condition among men as they age. Known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it can cause frustrating and sometimes disruptive urinary symptoms that affect your everyday life. Fortunately, several treatment options are available to help manage symptoms successfully, allowing you to take your life back.
What is an Enlarged Prostate?
The prostate is a small gland located just below the bladder in men. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
As men age, the prostate often grows larger, which is a usual part of aging and different from prostate cancer. The exact cause isn’t fully understood. But, hormonal changes, genetics, and lifestyle may contribute.
When the prostate becomes too large in BPH, it can press against the urethra, making it difficult for urine to pass through.
What Are BPH Symptoms?
If you have an enlarged prostate, you might experience symptoms like:
- Frequent urination, especially at night, called nocturia
- Difficulty starting urination, even when you feel the urge to go
- A weak or interrupted urine stream
- Trouble emptying your bladder fully
- Dribbling after urination
- A constant feeling that your bladder is not completely empty
For some men, these symptoms are mild and barely noticeable. For others, they can really interfere with everyday life.
How Is an Enlarged Prostate Treated?
Finding the right treatment for BPH comes down to how bothersome your symptoms are. Some of the most common ways to manage an enlarged prostate include:
Watchful Waiting
If your symptoms are mild and do not bother you, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting. This is known as active surveillance, and it involves regular checkups to monitor your prostate size and symptoms over time. Lifestyle changes like limiting caffeine and alcohol, especially before bedtime, may help reduce symptoms.
Medications
For moderate symptoms, medications can be very effective. Common options include:
- Alpha-blockers which relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. They work quickly and are often a first-line treatment for BPH. Examples include:
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- tamsulosin (Flomax)
- alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
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- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors which shrink the prostate by blocking hormones that cause it to grow. They may take a few months to show results but are particularly helpful for men with larger prostates. Two examples are:
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- finasteride (Proscar)
- dutasteride (Avodart)
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Combining an alpha-blocker with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor sometimes provides better symptom relief.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
If medications don’t help, minimally invasive treatments can reduce prostate size or alleviate blockage. These are often done in an outpatient setting with a shorter recovery time than traditional surgery. Options include:
- Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) uses heat to destroy excess prostate tissue.
- Water jet therapy (Aquablation) involves using a high-velocity jet of water to remove excess prostate tissue.
- Water vapor therapy (Rezūm). With this procedure, steam is used to shrink prostate tissue, improving urine flow with minimal downtime.
- Prostatic urethral lift (UroLift) uses small implants to hold the prostate tissue away from the urethra. This reduces blockage without removing tissue.
- Laser therapy (GreenLight). Removes prostate tissue without incisions using a precise laser.
Surgical Treatments
If your symptoms are severe or lead to complications like complete urinary retention, surgery might be required. Surgical options include:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), where the surgeon removes excess prostate tissue through the urethra.
- Laser treatments, such as Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP), use energy to remove obstructive prostate tissue with less bleeding than TURP.
See a Urologist About Treatment for An Enlarged Prostate
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate or are concerned about your prostate health, a urologist can:
- Evaluate your symptoms and perform necessary tests
- Discuss the full range of treatment options
- Monitor your condition over time and adjust treatment if needed
Don’t continue to live with the unwanted symptoms of BPH. Schedule an appointment to learn about the best treatment for an enlarged prostate today!