BPH symptoms can start small. Maybe your urine stream isn’t as strong as it used to be, or you’re getting up more often at night to use the bathroom. For some men, these symptoms stay mild for years. For others, they become more bothersome or make it harder to empty the bladder.
BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, happens when the prostate grows larger with age. As it grows, it can squeeze the urethra and slow or block urine flow.
BPH symptoms become more serious when they affect your daily life, make it difficult to empty your bladder, or lead to problems such as urinary retention, infections, bladder stones, or kidney problems.
How Do BPH Symptoms Change Over Time?
BPH doesn’t affect every man the same way. Early symptoms may be mild. You may notice that it takes longer to start urinating or that your stream isn’t as strong as it once was.
You may also:
- Need to urinate more often
- Feel a sudden urge to go
- Wake up several times during the night
- Dribble after you finish
- Feel like your bladder isn’t empty
Symptoms don’t always get worse at a steady rate. Some men have mild BPH symptoms that stay about the same for years.
Prostate size doesn’t always tell you how bad your symptoms will be, either. A slightly enlarged prostate can cause a lot of trouble with urine flow, while a much larger prostate may cause few symptoms.
What matters more is how well your bladder empties, how much your symptoms affect your life, and whether BPH is causing other problems.
When Are BPH Symptoms a Sign of a Bigger Problem?
It may be time to see a urologist when BPH starts getting in the way of everyday life. Maybe you’re getting up several times a night and you’re exhausted the next day. Or you plan outings around bathroom stops because you’re worried about sudden urgency.
Changes in your urine stream can also be a warning sign. You may have to strain, notice a weaker flow, or still feel like you need to go after you’ve finished.
When the prostate blocks urine flow, your bladder has to work harder to push urine out. Over time, it may have trouble emptying completely. Urine left in the bladder can raise your risk of urinary tract infections and bladder stones. In more serious cases, it can eventually affect the kidneys.
If you can’t urinate at all, seek medical care right away. This is called acute urinary retention and may require a catheter to empty your bladder.
You should also seek prompt medical care if you have blood in your urine, painful urination with fever or chills, or severe or increasing trouble urinating.
When Might You Need a BPH Procedure?
Not everyone with BPH needs a procedure. Mild symptoms may only need monitoring, while medications can improve symptoms for many men.
Your urologist may recommend a procedure if medication isn’t working, causes side effects, or your symptoms continue to interfere with your quality of life.
A procedure may also be recommended for:
- Repeated urinary retention
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Bladder stones
- Bleeding from the prostate
- Kidney problems caused by blocked urine flow
- Severe symptoms that don’t improve with treatment
BPH procedures work in different ways. Some widen the urethra or move prostate tissue out of the way. Others reduce or remove tissue that’s blocking urine flow.
Side effects vary by procedure. They may include temporary urinary symptoms, bleeding, infection, or changes in ejaculation. Your urologist can help you compare your options based on your symptoms, the size and shape of your prostate, and treatment goals.
Get Help for BPH Symptoms in Murrells Inlet and Conway
You don’t have to wait until BPH symptoms become severe to see a urologist. If you’re waking up throughout the night, struggling to empty your bladder, or planning your day around bathroom trips, it’s worth getting checked.
Call 843.347.2450 to schedule an appointment with Atlantic Urology Clinics in Murrells Inlet or Conway to find out what’s causing your symptoms and discuss your treatment options.