Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlarged prostate. As a man grows old, the prostate undergoes two primary growth cycles. The first cycle usually happens during early puberty where the prostate’s size doubles. The second cycle begins at the age of 25 years and continues for the rest of the life. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) usually develops during the second growth cycle.
During the second phase, the prostate enlarges, pressing against the urethra. As this happens, the bladder wall also becomes thicker. The condition causes the narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention. The bladder tends to weaken and fail to empty fully, resulting in some urine being left in the bladder. This condition causes uncomfortable symptoms such as urinary tract, bladder, and kidney problems.
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
The prostate is a tiny, muscular gland that surrounds the urethra. The gland is responsible for the most fluid in the semen. The prostate’s muscular action assists in propelling semen and fluid through the penis during ejaculation. Prostate enlargement is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) develops when the prostate gland cells start to replicate. As the cells multiply, the prostate gland swells, pressing against the urethra and obstructing the urine flow.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is benign, meaning it does not cause or lead to cancer. However, the condition leads to uncomfortable symptoms and complications that can affect the quantity of life. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting about 50% of all men aged between 51 and 60 years. The condition also affects up to 90% of men aged over 80.
Symptoms
For most people, the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms are very mild at first. However, the symptoms worsen over time if not treated. Similar to other conditions, the severity of the symptoms varies from one person to the other. The common signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) include;
- An abrupt urinating urge
- Leakage or incontinence of urine
- Dribbling, especially when you are done urinating
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
- Half-finished bladder emptying
- Nocturia – This condition leads to increased frequency of urination at night
- Incontinence or leakage of urine
- A delayed or slow urinary stream
- Straining when urinating
- Painful urination
Although less common, a person suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) can also have the following symptoms;
- Inability to urinate
- Urinary tract infection
- Blood trace in the urine
Most often, your prostate size does not primarily determine the severity of the symptoms. Men with a slightly enlarged prostate can experience severe symptoms than men with significantly enlarged prostates. Sometimes, the symptoms stabilize with time. However, you experience one or more of these symptoms, you need to talk to your doctor. PBH is treatable, and often-early treatment helps to prevent complications.
Causes
For most men, prostate growth continues throughout life. As such, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is considered a normal part of male aging. As stated, almost all men above the age of 80 experience Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms. While it is not entirely clear what causes prostate enlargement, variations in male hormones that develop as we age might be a contributing factor. A family with prostate issues history or testicle abnormalities may put you at increased susceptibility to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Some of the other common risk factors for prostate gland enlargement include:
Complications
Most men suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) do not develop complications. However, acute urinary retention can lead to severe complications. Below are the common enlarged prostate complications.
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Sudden Inability to Urinate (Urinary Retention)
Inability to urinate is a severe condition that leads to various complications. Your doctor might need to insert a catheter into the bladder to drain the urine. Patients suffering from an enlarged prostate may also require surgery that helps relieve urinary retention.
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Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Difficulty in emptying the bladder fully increases the risk of infection of your urinary tract. If the patient suffers from frequent UTIs attacks, the doctor may perform surgery to remove part of the prostate.
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Bladder Stones
Bladder stones are caused due to the inability to empty the bladder. The bladder stones can lead to bladder irritation, infection, obstruction of urine flow, and blood in the urine.
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Bladder Damage
When the bladder does not empty, it tends to stretch and weaken gradually. The condition causes difficulty in contracting the bladder’s muscular walls, making it hard to empty the bladder.
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Kidney Damage
The pressure in the bladder caused by urinary retention can damage the kidneys. In other scenarios, the infections in the bladder tend to affect the kidney.
How is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Diagnosed?
The doctor will begin the diagnosis process by asking detailed questions about your symptoms and performing a physical examination. The first examination usually includes:
Here the doctor will insert a finger into the rectum to check the extent of the prostate enlargement for
The doctor will also perform a urine test to help rule other conditions or infections that may cause similar symptoms.
The test is conducted to help diagnose other conditions such as kidney problems.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
PSA blood test is another standardized test that is used in diagnosing BPH. The prostate produces prostate-specific antigen. When you have an enlarged prostate, the PSA levels tend to increase. However, increased PSA levels can also indicate infections or prostate cancer.
The doctor may also recommend additional tests to help confirm BPH and rule out other conditions. The tests include;
The test involves urinating into a receptacle that is attached to a machine that calculates the strength and amount of your urine flow. This test is crucial, especially when determining whether your condition is improving or deteriorating.
These test results show your ability to empty your bladder. It is done by inserting a catheter into the bladder or using an ultrasound to measure how much urine is left after you urinate.
The test is beneficial, especially for people who frequently urinate at night. It involves recording the frequency and amount of urine.
For complex conditions, your doctor may recommend the following additional tests.
The test involves inserting an ultrasound probe into the rectum to measure and evaluate your prostate.
The transrectal ultrasound is used in guiding the needles that take the tissue samples of the prostate. Examining the sample will help the doctor in ruling out or diagnosing prostate cancer.
While a bit complex, this test is essential, especially for men with neurological problems and those who had undergone a previous prostate procedure but still have symptoms. The procedure involves threading a catheter through the urethra into the bladder. Water or air is injected into the bladder slowly. The test will help measure the bladder pressure and how effective your bladder muscles are responding.
A cystoscope is a light, flexible instrument inserted into the urethra, enabling the doctor to see inside the bladder and urethra. A local anesthetic is necessary before the test.
Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
With various Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatments available, the best choice for you depends on various factors. These factors included your prostate size, age, overall health, and the amount of discomfort you are experiencing. If the symptoms are tolerable, trying natural treatment such as lifestyle changes may help. Some of the natural treatment includes;
- urinating immediately you feel the need
- going to the washroom to urinate frequently
- Keep off using OTC medications such as antihistamines or decongestants that make bladder emptying hard.
- Avoiding taking caffeinated or alcoholic drinks after dinner
- Practicing Kegel exercise to strengthen the pelvic muscles
- Regular exercises
- Keep yourself warm; cold weather makes the symptoms worse.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
Pedes Orange County is excited to do this new procedure for our clinic. Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an innovative procedure that helps treat urinary symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia without sexual side effects. Although it is now common in the United States, the procedure was developed in Europe and South America. Patients who suffer from BPH encounter multiple urinary and sexual issues. Enlarged prostate makes urine flow very slow, leading to urinary infections that may affect your kidney. While various medications and surgical treatments are available for BPH, they often retrograde ejaculation, a severe sexual dysfunction. As mentioned earlier, PAE is an advanced treatment, which offers fast results without interfering with the patient’s sex life.
Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Prostate artery embolization is a relatively new and safer outpatient procedure performed by interventional radiologists to help treat benign prostatic embolization (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate…
What to Expect from Your Visit to Pedes
ULTRASOUND
ULTRASOUND
Your treatment will begin with an ultrasound examination of your veins, arteries, or both, in your legs to diagnose the presence and extent of the disease. Your test results will be immediately available to review with the doctor.
CONSULT
CONSULT
Once we review the results of your diagnostic tests, our physicians will help you develop a plan to provide you with the best treatment for your disease.
TREATMENT
TREATMENT
Depending on the extent of disease in your arteries or veins, our specialists may recommend minimally invasive intervention and/or prescribe medications to help your symptoms.
FOLLOW UP
FOLLOW UP
It is important to make sure that you return for every scheduled follow-up appointment to ensure that your disease is appropriately monitored. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please call or schedule a follow-up appointment with our staff.