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  1. Conditions and Treatments
  3. Enlarged Prostate

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the noncancerous growth of prostate tissue, resulting in enlargement of the prostate gland. Also known as an enlarged prostate, BPH affects half of all men between 51 and 60 years of age and up to 90% of men older than 80.1

The prostate gland is located right beneath the bladder and grows as a man gets older. As it grows, it pushes against the urethra and can block urine flow. Symptoms include a frequent or urgent need to urinate and an increased need to urinate at night.2 BPH is also linked to erectile dysfunction and reduced sex drive.1,3 Left untreated, BPH can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder damage, bladder stones, kidney damage (or chronic renal failure) and urinary retention (the inability to urinate).2

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate)

Treatment Options for BPH

Most men with BPH are unhappy with the condition and do not wish to live the rest of their lives with its symptoms. For patients with mild symptoms, lifestyle modifications are often all that’s needed. For example, a doctor may recommend limiting fluid intake before bed or before a long car trip.

For those with moderate to severe symptoms, oral medications are typically the first line of treatment. There are various medications that can be used to treat the different symptoms associated with BPH, which can be ordered by your primary care doctor or a urologist.

If a patient fails medical management, has symptoms that progress while on medications, or develops a reason they can no longer tolerate the existing medications, surgery is then usually considered. There are several surgical options that a urologist can offer, depending on the size of the prostate gland and other factors. These treatments are typically invasive and require general anesthesia.

One surgical procedure used to treat BPH is called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The aim of the surgery is to remove prostate tissue to relieve urethral obstruction. Unfortunately, the procedure has a risk of postoperative bleeding and damage to the nerves around the prostate gland. Side effects are common after TURP procedures and include infection, sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation.4

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an FDA-approved, less invasive treatment option for men with severe BPH symptoms. This convenient outpatient procedure may alleviate BPH symptoms for most men without the need for surgery.6

If the symptoms of BPH are keeping you from living your best life, contact us to schedule a consultation. Our physicians work with all members of your care team to find the enlarged prostate treatment that is right for you.

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References

  1. Berry, Stephen J., et al. “The Development of Human Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Age.” The Journal of Urology, vol. 132, no. 3, 1984, pp. 474–479.
  2. Lerner, Laurence B., et al. “Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline Part I & II.” The Journal of Urology, vol. 206, no. 4, 2021, pp. 806–817.
  3. Rosen, Raymond, et al. “Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Male Sexual Dysfunction: The Multinational Survey of the Aging Male (MSAM-7).” European Urology, vol. 44, no. 6, 2003, pp. 637–649.
  4. Reich, Oliver, et al. “Morbidity, Mortality and Early Outcome of Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Prospective Multicenter Evaluation of 10,654 Patients.” The Journal of Urology, vol. 180, no. 1, 2008, pp. 246–249.
  5. Carnevale, Francisco C., et al. “Prostatic Artery Embolization for Enlarged Prostates Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.” CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, vol. 36, no. 2, 2013, pp. 315–323.
  6. Ray, Asim F., et al. “Prostatic Artery Embolization versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: 2-Year Outcomes of a Randomized, Open-Label, Single-Centre Trial.” European Urology, vol. 75, no. 4, 2019, pp. 698–707.
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