The symptoms of enlarged prostate might go unnoticed at first. You might find that you wake in the night with the urge to urinate once in awhile, or that you don’t feel that your bladder entirely empties when you go sometimes.
The problem is that BPH is a progressive condition. Without treatment the symptoms will definitely worsen with time, and those symptoms definitely affect your quality of life.
BHP is also very common. More than 70% of men in their 60s experience BPH.
Understanding BPH is the first step toward getting your symptoms under control
BPH, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, is commonly known as an enlarged prostate. The prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland located beneath the bladder. It produces the fluid in semen, and it wraps around the urethra, which is the tube that passes urine out of the body.
The narrowing of the urethra due to prostate growth as you age, and the resulting effects on the bladder, are what cause the uncomfortable and annoying symptoms of BPH.
The most common symptoms are:
- Increased urge to urinate, both during the day and at night
- The feeling that the bladder is full, even after urination
- Slow or weak urine flow
- Starting and stopping while urinating
- Incontinence
- Difficulty starting urination
What can I do to relieve the symptoms?
Thankfully BPH is a non-cancerous condition. However, the symptoms are definitely life-altering. Additionally, if left untreated, strain on the bladder muscles can cause additional damage to the tissues over time, and even possibly kidney issues.
Yet many men do not seek treatment because they have heard of the negative side effects of many treatment options, particularly those reducing sexual function. Medications traditionally prescribed for BPH do have many possible downsides, including:
- Lack of energy
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nasal congestion
- Sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction, ejaculation dysfunction, and reduced libido
It is not surprising that many men choose to avoid these side effects by not seeking treatment or by stopping their medication. Unfortunately, some of the side effects can continue, even after medication is stopped.
There are other surgical procedures that can give some relief, and these will be discussed in an upcoming article.
UroLift offers hope for treatment of BPH
A new procedure called UroLift is very promising for the treatment of enlarged prostate. We are excited to offer this procedure to our patients in the very near future because it has shown excellent results with very minimal side effects.
The UroLift System is a tiny implant that lifts and holds the prostate tissue away from the urethra, relieving the pressure that causes the symptoms and the possible damage in the future.
The procedure can be done in one office visit and avoids virtually all of the negative side effects of all other treatments. There is no ongoing medication, and no additional cutting or heating of tissues required by other procedures.
Are you ready for relief from the symptoms of BPH?
Understanding BPH, the symptoms, and treatments puts the control back in your hands. You can get relief with very few side effects. If you are interested in finding out more about UroLift, call RGU today and make an appointment to find out if this simple procedure is right for you.
