Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as a prostate gland enlargement, most commonly affects men as they age. The prostate experiences two primary growth cycles throughout a man’s life. Initially, it occurs during puberty, which results in the prostate doubling in size. The second growth cycle often occurs around age 25 and continues for the duration of the man’s life. The prostate pushes the urethra as it enlarges, which can cause the bladder to become weaker and be unable to completely empty urine. This can lead to additional issues, including kidney problems and urinary tract infections.

Symptoms of BPH

The severity of symptoms varies and can worsen over time. These are some of the symptoms you may experience:

• Urgent and frequent need to urinate
• Urinate frequently during the night (Nocturia)
• Dribbling after urination
• Inconsistent stream
• Unable to completely empty bladder

Treatments for BPH

There are a variety of treatments for BP, including medication, therapies and surgery. Some of the medication options include:

• Alpha-Blockers: This medication can relax the bladder muscles and muscle fibres in the prostate, which can make urinating far easier. 

• 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: This type of medication can shrink the size of the prostate by stopping hormonal changes that trigger prostate growth. 

Specific BPH therapy treatments may be recommended for individuals with more severe symptoms or symptoms that have not been relieved from medication. One example of BPH surgical therapy includes Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). TURP has the surgeon insert a scope into the urethra and removes the inside of the prostate to relieve symptoms.