What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and How to Treat It

Main symptoms
What causes prostatic hyperplasia
How is the treatment done?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or just BPH, is an enlarged prostate that arises naturally with age in most men, being a common male problem after age 50.

Generally, prostate hyperplasia is identified when symptoms appear such as frequent urination to urinate, difficulty completely emptying the bladder, or the presence of a weak urine stream. However, it is necessary to make an evaluation with a urologist to dislodge other problems that may cause similar symptoms, such as prostate infection or even cancer. See the major signs of prostate cancer.

Depending on the degree of prostate change and symptoms, treatment can be done only with the use of medications or may require surgery, and to select the best option it is important to talk to your doctor.

Main symptoms

The most common symptoms in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia usually include:

Frequent and urgent urge to urinate;
Difficulty starting urination;
Waking up frequently at night to urinate;
Urine stream weak or stops and resumes;
Feeling of bladder still full after urinating.

These symptoms usually appear after the age of 50 and it is common that they will worsen over time, according to the enlarged prostate, which ends up tightening the urethra and affecting the urinary system.

However, it is also possible that the severity of the symptoms is not directly related to the size of the prostate, since there are several men who present very marked symptoms even with a slight increase of the prostate.

See what other problems may cause similar symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

Since there are several urinary problems that can cause symptoms similar to those of prostatic hyperplasia such as urinary tract infection, inflammation of the prostate, kidney stones or even prostate cancer, it is very important to consult a urologist.

The doctor after evaluating the symptoms and the history of the man, usually can ask for several examinations like rectal ultrasound, urine examination, PSA examination or biopsy of the prostate, for example, to rule out other problems and confirm the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Watch the following video and see how these exams are performed:

What causes prostatic hyperplasia

Although there is no specific cause to justify enlargement of the prostate, however, it is possible that benign prostatic hyperplasia is caused by a gradual growth of the gland that happens by the hormonal alteration that the man presents with the natural aging.

However, there are some known factors that appear to increase the risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia:

Be over 50 years old;
Have a family history of prostate problems;
Having heart disease or diabetes.

In addition, exercise also appears to be one of the factors that increases the risk of prostate hyperplasia. Thus, obese or overweight men are at increased risk of developing BPH.

How is the treatment done?

Treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia varies according to the size of the prostate, the age of the man and the type of symptoms. Thus, the best form of treatment should always be discussed with the urologist. Some of the most used forms are:

1. Remedies for benign prostatic hyperplasia

This type of treatment is usually used in men with mild to moderate symptoms and may include the use of different medications such as:

Alpha blockers, such as Alfuzosin or Doxazosin: relax the muscles of the bladder and the fibers of the prostate, making it easier to urinate;
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, such as Finasteride or Dutasteride: reduce prostate size by inhibiting some hormonal processes;
Tadalafil is a widely used remedy for erectile dysfunction, but it can also reduce the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia.

These medicines can be used separately or in combination, depending on the type of symptoms.

2. Minimally invasive therapies

Minimally invasive therapies are used especially in cases of men with moderate or severe symptoms who have not improved with the remedies indicated by the physician.

There are several such techniques, but they can all cause other complications such as retrograde ejaculation, increased difficulty urinating, bleeding in urine, recurrent urinary infections or even erectile dysfunction. Thus, one should discuss well all the options with the urologist.

Some of the most commonly used techniques are Transurethral Incision of the Prostate, Transurethral Thermo-therapy by Microwave, Laser Therapy or Prostate Lifting, for example.

3. Surgery

Surgery is usually done to remove the prostate and definitely resolve all symptoms, being advised when none of the other forms of treatment had results or when the prostate weighing more than 75 grams. This surgery can be done by laparoscopy or in a classic way, through a cut in the belly.

Here's how this surgery is done and how recovery is.

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