The prostate is the man’s reproductive gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), means the gland has abnormally grown bigger. BPH happens to almost all men as they age and it can press on the urethra, and cause urination and bladder problems. BPH is not cancer and it does not raise your risk for prostate cancer.
Symptoms
Symptoms associated with enlarged prostate include, dribbling at the end of urinating, inability to urinate, incontinence, frequent urination at night, bloody urine, and weak urine system.
Diagnosis
You may first notice symptoms of enlarged prostate yourself or during a routine checkup by your doctor, at which point you will be referred to a urologist for further examination. The tests vary from patient to patient, but the following are the most common:
- Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test
- Rectal Ultrasound and Prostate Biopsy
- Urine Flow Study
- Cystoscopy
Men who have BPH with symptoms usually need some type of treatment depending on the severity of their condition. Although the need for treatment is not typically urgent, our doctors might advise the treatment if the problems become troublesome or present a health risk.
The following section describes the types of treatments that are commonly used for BPH.
- Drug Treatment
- Minimally Invasive Therapy
- Transurethral microwave
- Transurethral needle ablation
- Surgical Treatment
- Transurethral surgery
- Laser surgery
- Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP)
- Interstitial laser coagulation
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