Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is when the prostate gland grows bigger, but it’s not cancer.

It’s pretty common, especially as guys get older.

Symptoms can vary, but common ones include:

• Trouble starting to pee
• Weak pee stream
• Peeing a lot, especially at night
• Feeling like you have to pee right away, even when you don’t
• Feeling like you haven’t emptied your bladder after peeing
• Leaking pee
• Not being able to pee at all (in severe cases)

We’re not entirely sure, but it might have to do with hormones changing as you get older.

They’ll ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. This might include:

• Checking your prostate with a finger in your butt (don’t worry, it’s quick and not too uncomfortable)
• Checking your pee for any problems
• Checking your blood for a protein called PSA, which can go up if your prostate is bigger

You might need other tests to confirm benign prostatic hyperplasia, like:

• A test to measure how strong your pee flow is
• A test to see if your bladder empties all the way after you pee
• Keeping track of how much and how often you pee for a day
• If things are more complicated, they might do more tests like ultrasounds or even a small sample of your prostate to check for cancer.

The treatment depends on how bad the symptoms are and your overall health. Here are some common options:

Medications: These can include pills called alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. They help by relaxing the muscles in your prostate and bladder, making it easier to pee or slowing down prostate growth.

Minimally Invasive Procedures: These are treatments that don’t involve big surgeries. They include things like blocking off blood vessels to the prostate (prostatic artery embolization ) or using heat to shrink it (transurethral needle ablation).

Surgery: Sometimes, if the prostate is very big, surgery might be needed. There are different types, from traditional surgery to newer ones using robots.

Watchful Waiting: If your symptoms aren’t too bad, or if you’re not up for other treatments, your doctor might suggest just keeping an eye on things and treating only if the symptoms get worse.

Lifestyle Changes: Simple things like drinking less before bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and steering clear of certain over-the-counter meds can also help ease symptoms..

An interventional radiologist can help with diagnosis and treatment.