Educational Information on BPH

As a man ages, his prostate enlarges. As the prostate gets larger, it can squeeze the urethra causing uncomfortable or inconvenient symptoms or obstruction of urine flow. This information is provided to help you learn more about prostate enlargement and treatment options available to you.

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate or BPH

• Do you frequently have to go to the bathroom?
• Do you have difficulty getting a good night sleep due to frequent urination?
• Do you have difficulty emptying your bladder completely?
• Does the urge to urinate sometimes come on suddenly?
• Do you feel the need to strain or push your bladder when you begin to urinate?
• Do you have a weak urine stream?   
  

If you have an enlarged prostate, you are not alone.

• Enlarged prostate or BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) affects millions of men
• BPH occurs in approximately half of all men 50 years old and up to 90% of men over 80 years of age

If you are bothered by your symptoms or if they prevent you from doing things you’d like to do, then you are likely a good candidate for treatment.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. The urethra is the tube that transports urine from the bladder out of the body. The main function of the prostate is to supply fluid that carries semen.

What is BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)?

BPH (or enlarged prostate) is the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that restricts urine flow. BPH is not usually life threatening but you may have found it to be embarrassing, inconvenient and uncomfortable.  Symptoms of BPH include the need to urinate often, the need to urinate suddenly, difficulty empting your bladder completely, and difficulty sleeping due to frequent urination.

When these symptoms impact your quality of life by impairing your ability to sleep and participate in daily activities you should consider seeking treatment. If you cannot empty your bladder at all, have blood in your urine or experience pain or burning while urinating, you should see a doctor right away.

In order to help determine the severity of your condition, your physician may ask you to complete the American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Score questionnaire. Your numerical score on the AUA Symptom Score questions can range from mild to severe. The higher your score, the more severe your condition.

In addition, your physician may use the following to diagnose and better understand your BPH:

• Physical exam
• Blood and urine tests
• Ultra sound imaging

• Visit our patient education website for more information