Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)

As you age, your prostate may naturally enlarge. This isn't cancer. It’s called BPH, and it can make urination difficult. Many men over 50 experience this, and it's very common in older men.

Your prostate is normally the size of a walnut, and it surrounds the urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of your body. As your prostate gets bigger when you have BPH, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing disruptive symptoms like:

• A weak urine stream
• Straining or pushing to start urinating
• Dribbling after you finish urinating
• Feeling like your bladder isn't completely empty
• Needing to pee urgently and frequently
• Waking up at night to pee

These symptoms can significantly decrease your quality of life. You might have interrupted sleep, avoided social situations, and struggled completing a full workday. Feelings of frustration, embarrassment, and depression are normal. That’s why we’re here to help.

Getting a BPH diagnosis

If you’re having any BPH symptoms, make an appointment with an AHN urologist. Your doctor may diagnose BPH by:

• Discussing your urinary symptoms
• Giving you a physical exam, including a rectal exam
• Ordering urine and blood tests
• Conducting tests to see how well your bladder empties
• Performing a cystoscopy — a procedure using a camera to view your bladder and urethra

Treatment for BPH

When symptoms of an enlarged prostate first start, they can be very frustrating. But they don’t always require immediate medical help. Simple steps can help manage your symptoms before considering more advanced options. These include:

• Lifestyle changes: Avoiding bladder irritants like coffee, tea, alcohol, soda, and acidic foods. Pee regularly instead of holding it.
• Monitoring: If your symptoms aren't bothering you too much then you can keep in touch with your doctor if anything changes.
• Medication: Several types of medicine can help. 

If lifestyle changes and medications don’t help your symptoms, there are other treatment options to consider.

Aquablation^®

Aquablation is a new treatment that can provide you with long-lasting relief from your urinary symptoms. It's a minimally invasive procedure. That means it’s a much faster recovery than with traditional surgery. Plus, it helps preserve your sexual function.

A doctor uses a robotic system and a water jet to precisely remove the extra prostate tissue blocking your pee flow. Most men go home the next day and return to normal activities immediately.

Surgery

AHN also offers surgeries to treat BPH to provide you with long-term relief from your symptoms.

• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): A surgeon uses a specialized scope to see and trim away extra prostate tissue that’s blocking your urine flow.
• Photoselective vaporization (PVP): A surgeon uses a laser and specialized scope to see and burn away extra tissue that’s blocking your urine flow.
• Prostatic urethral lift (UroLift™): A surgeon places small permanent implants in your prostate tissue to lift it out of the way. 

An AHN urologist will work with you to figure out the best treatment plan for your specific situation.

Contact us

Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or schedule online with AHN urology to learn more about prostate health.