Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is diagnosed in about 8% of men in their 40s.
The risk for BPH increases as you get older, affecting half of men after the age of 60. The physicians at Urology Group of Florida have years of experience treating BPH using nonsurgical and surgical methods, including today’s most advanced treatment options.
BPH Q & A
What is BPH?
BPH develops when abnormal cell growth, called hyperplasia, enlarges your prostate gland. The excessive growth is benign (not cancerous), and it doesn’t affect your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Although experts are still studying the cause of BPH, they believe it’s due to age-related hormonal changes.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Your urethra, the tube that carries urine, travels through the center of your prostate. As the prostate gets larger, it can block the flow of urine, leading to symptoms such as:
Difficulty releasing urine
A weak urine stream that stops and starts
Frequent need to urinate
Strong urge to urinate
Dribbling after you’re finished urinating
More frequent urination at night
Inability to completely empty your bladder
In some cases, men don’t develop obvious urinary problems until the urethra is blocked and they can’t urinate.
How is an enlarged prostate diagnosed?
During your physical examination, your doctor at Advanced Urology of South Florida performs a digital rectal exam to assess the size and shape of your prostate.
They may also administer a urinalysis, blood tests, and other specialized tests, depending on the results of your exam. For example, your doctor may do a diagnostic ultrasound or perform urodynamic studies to evaluate the functioning of your bladder and urethra.
How is BPH treated?
For mild to moderate BPH, your doctor may prescribe one of several medications that can relax muscles or shrink your prostate. If your symptoms are moderate to severe and medications don’t help, your doctor may recommend minimally invasive surgery to clear the blockage.
The doctors at Urology Group of Florida always stay up to date with the latest technology. As a result, they’re proud to offer two innovative and effective treatments:
UroLift® System
Your doctor inserts tiny implants that eliminate urine blockage by holding the urethra open.
Rezūm® System
Rezūm also clears the blocked urethra using radiofrequency (RF) energy and water. As RF energy turns water into steam, the steam is injected into the prostate tissue that’s blocking your urine. The treated cells are gently damaged and die, which clears the blockage.