Over the course of man’s life, his prostate will go through two main growth cycles. The first happens early on in puberty. During this time, the prostate will double in size. It will then remain the same until around age 25 when the second phase begins.
Once the second phase has started, the prostate will continue to grow slowly for the rest of the man’s life. Initially, this is not a problem.
Eventually, however, the prostate will likely reach a point where it starts to affect the areas around it such as the bladder and urethra. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is a non-cancerous condition that over half of men between 51 and 60 have. Once a man reaches 80, there’s a 90% chance he’ll have it.
While BPH isn’t life threatening, it can cause a number of problems with urination including:
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- Weak urine flow
- Sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate
- Urine flow that stops and starts multiple times
- Strained urination
- Full bladder sensations even after urination
- And more
These issue can affect your sleep and your social habits while causing discomfort and embarrassment. Common treatments for BPH include prescription medications and/or invasive surgeries. While these can be effective, they can also come with various risks and side effects.
A popular alternative that avoids these potential issues is the UroLift® System.
What is UroLift® and How Does it Treat BPH?
The UroLift® System is a minimally invasive approach to treating BPH. With UroLift®, there is no cutting, heating, or removing the prostate tissue.
Instead, the enlarged prostate tissue is simply “lifted” out of the way. This effectively relieves urinary tract symptoms without compromising sexual function.
The UroLift® System involves three steps:
Step 1: A UroLift® delivery device is placed through the urethra to access the enlarged prostate.
Step 2: Small implants are attached through the delivery device that hold the enlarged tissue out of the way, opening the urethra pathway.
Step 3: The UroLift® delivery device is removed and the body recovers.
UroLift® is a great alternative to ongoing medication and surgical procedures that often cause side effects, complications, and/or a loss of sexual function. With UroLift®, you can be back to living your life quickly.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate, it’s important that you see a doctor immediately. While BPH is non-cancerous, it shares certain symptoms with prostate cancer. A urologist will be able to help identify what’s going on, and if applicable, treat you with UroLift®.
For urology specialists in the Dayton, Ohio and the Miami Valley area, contact Urology Specialists of Ohio today! We are equipped to provide UroLift® treatment in addition to many other urology procedures.