Posts

Enlarged Prostate – What you need to know

/in /by

Have you ever stood in line at the urinal, and wondered why some other males have to stand at the urinal for an unusually long period of time before he is able to start urinating? Or that it might take a while for him to empty his bladder?

While there are a variety of conditions that may cause such a scenario at the urinal, if the person is a middle-aged or elderly gentleman, it is possible that he has Enlarged Prostate – Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

What is an Enlarged Prostate (BPH)?

The prostate is an organ that sits directly under the bladder and surrounds the first part of the urethra (the tube that carries urine) as it comes out of the bladder. It is usually the size of a walnut in an adult.

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate (BPH)?

Over the decades of a man’s life, the prostate grows slowly and enlarges. This is Enlarged Prostate (BPH). If the prostate gland enlarges in the areas adjacent to the urethra, it will compress it, resulting in a smaller lumen to carry urine.

As a result, the person may have symptoms of Enlarged Prostate (BPH) such as difficulty in the starting of urination, weak urine stream, dribbling at the end of urination, increased frequency and urgency of urination and multiple visits to the toilet at night. These symptoms usually interfere with the patient’s quality of life and sleep.

If there is chronic obstruction by the prostate, urine can chronically be retained, which can damage the kidneys and bladder. It can also result in urinary tract infections and stones as well. READ: other Signs & Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate

How Do I Know If I Have Enlarged Prostate (BPH)?

If you do go to a clinic for possible Enlarged Prostate (BPH), a doctor will do a prostate examination. The doctor might order some urine studies, an ultrasound and some blood tests to look at the kidney function and the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood.

What Are The Treatment for Enlarged Prostate (BPH)?

 There are certain medications that can be used to alleviate the symptoms of BPH. They include medications to relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate, and medications to shrink the prostate size.

Some doctors also use erectile dysfunction medications to treat Enlarged Prostate (BPH) as well. With these medications, most patients do notice improvement of the symptoms. If there are significant side effects from the medication, or if the symptoms do not improve after a period of treatment, then surgery is indicated.

The surgery done is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia and removes the part of the prostate intruding into the urethra. No cuts are made and it is done through the penis.

 

All in All

Most patients do not even realise they have Enlarged Prostate (BPH), and think that these symptoms are part of ageing. Urination should not be so difficult or inconvenient!

As mentioned above, there are a variety of diseases that can cause the above urinary symptoms. Speak to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms and perhaps BPH may be the cause.

If you wish to speak to us about Enlarged Prostate Diagnosis or Treatment you can walk into any of our DTAP Clinic. You can also call us or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg for an appointment.
Take Care.

Related Read:

  1. 10 Ways to Improve Sexual Performance for Men
  2. Weak Erection? Erectile Dysfunction? Improv Erection with Pills
  3. Hypogonadism – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
  4. Andropause (Male Menopause)
  5. Human Growth Hormones (HGH)
  6. Penile Rejuvenation – What you need to know
  7. Erectile Dysfunction Treatment with ElectroShock Wave Treatment
  8. Pearly Penile Papules (Bumps On Penis)
  9. Premature Ejaculation Treatment – What You Need to Know
  10. 10 Causes of Penile Pain
  11. What Causes Men’s Pattern hair loss (Androgenic Alopecia)
  12. Pills That Prevent HIV – HIV PrEP & HIV PEP
  13. What are the Causes of Foreskin Infection?