Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition experienced by over 70% of men in their 60s or older. BPH is characterized by an enlarged prostate. This condition is benign and unrelated to any type of cancer, however, it can still greatly affect a man’s quality of life.
What Is The Prostate?
The prostate is a male reproductive gland. Typically it is about the size of a walnut and located by the urethra and bladder. This gland produces fluid for semen.
Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, when it enlarges it can press or black the urethra which is what causes a majority of the symptoms associated with BPH, such as:
- Frequent need to urinate both day and night
- A weak or slow urinary stream
- A sense that you cannot completely empty your bladder
- Difficulty or delay in starting urination
- Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
- A urinary stream that stops and starts
- If you suffer from the above symptoms, you are not alone. BPH is one of the leading reasons for
- men to visit a urologist near Springfield, Ohio.
Urologist Treating BPH
The good news is that there are multiple treatment options for BPH. These options vary from lifestyle changes or drug therapies to outpatient surgeries and procedures.
Lifestyle Changes
Mild symptoms of BPH can sometimes be managed through lifestyle changes. This can include limiting the number of fluids you drink, especially in the evening. It can also be effective to limit caffeinated beverages like coffee or soda and stay away from spicy foods.
Your doctor may review any medications you are taking as some can make BPH worse.
You can also try methods of retraining your bladder to only go to the bathroom at certain times instead of at every urge or try pelvic floor exercises to strengthen urinary muscles.
Drug Therapy
Often when lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control BPH a urologist will recommend medication before surgical procedures. Medications that are alpha-blockers have been found to be the most successful in treating BPH.
“ Alpha-blockers are drugs that relax the muscles near the prostate, which relieves pressure on the urethra and allows urine to flow more easily. They don’t shrink the prostate. Alpha-blockers usually start working within a week.”
Surgery
When cases of BPH are more severe or men aren’t able to urinate at all, surgery may be the best option for immediate relief and treatment.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the surgery most commonly used to treat BPH.
TURP removes prostate tissue through the urethra.
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.
Urolift ® System
The UroLift® System treatment is a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach to treating BPH. This procedure has become the most common way for a urologist to treat enlarged prostate and can be done right in the urologist’s office.
The Urolift ® System lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way, so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating, or removal of prostate tissue.
Clinical data has shown that the Urolift ® System is safe and effective in relieving lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH without compromising sexual function.
The Goal of the Urolift ® System is to relieve symptoms, so you can get back to your life and resume daily activities.
Seeking Treatment Today
Symptoms of BPH can be painful and interfere with your daily life in a multitude of ways. Know that this common condition can be managed and treated when you seek help from a urologist in Springfield, Ohio. The team at Urology Specialist of Ohio is here to help you return to normal life without the interference of BPH symptoms.