Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that occurs when a man’s prostate gland starts to enlarge, usually after he reaches 40 years of age.

As the enlarged prostate grows, it can create risk and cause pressure on the neighboring urethra. This can cause urination issues for men with prostate enlargement. Prostate enlargement in men is one of the most common health problems for males older than 60 years of age.

Symptoms

• Weak urination stream
• Difficulty urinating
• Urine dribble, especially after urinating
• Feeling of not emptying the bladder fully
• Leaking urine
• Frequent urination
• Blood in the urine

Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform testing with a detailed history and physical exam.

Other tests for BPH include:

• Digital Rectal Exam: doctor inserts gloved finger into the rectum to estimate the size and condition of the enlarged prostate.
• Urinalysis: office test used for finding blood in the urine.

Treatment Options

Severe symptoms of enlarged prostate may require both medical and surgical treatments, which are readily available. Available enlarged prostate procedures are:

TURP

The most common prostate enlargement surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The TURP procedure allows the doctor to reduce pressure on the urethra and generally relieves symptoms.

TUIP

Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is also available, but is a more limited operation. In the TUIP surgery the doctor makes one or two small cuts in the prostate, which reduce the pressure on the urethra, allowing for easier urination.

Laser Treatments - TUMT, TUNA & ILC

Newer treatments include transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), transurethral ablation of the prostate (TUNA), and interstitial laser coagulation (ILC). These procedures are all somewhat similar. For each one, the prostate tissue is heated by a laser, resulting in the death of some prostate tissue, thus removing some of the obstruction.

PVP

Photovaporization of the prostate (PVP) is a popular treatment that removes prostate tissue similar to the TURP procedure. This treatment is beneficial because it provides immediate symptom improvement or relief.

Prognosis

The outcome of prostate enlargement varies—some conditions improve, some remain the same, or some become worse. Prostate enlargement causes urinary problems that affect 1 in 10 older men. Prostate enlargement is not cancer and it does not increase your chances of developing cancer.