What is BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, a gland located below the bladder that surrounds the urethra, the tube responsible for carrying urine out of the body. This condition is common among men over the age of 50: about 50% of men aged 60 and 90% of those over 85 are affected.
While the exact causes of BPH are not fully understood, it is often associated with hormonal changes linked to aging. It is important to note that BPH is not prostate cancer, although both conditions can coexist in the same patient and present similar symptoms.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Although BPH is not life-threatening, it can significantly impact comfort and quality of life. Symptoms are related to the compression of the urethra by the enlarged prostate, which obstructs the flow of urine. Common symptoms include:
- A sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
- Frequent need to urinate, often in small amounts.
- Waking up at night to urinate (nocturia).
- A sudden, strong urge to urinate, with difficulty holding it.
Lifestyle Changes
The first step in managing BPH often involves lifestyle modifications, such as:
- Weight loss.
- Limiting fluid intake, especially in the evening.
- Avoiding bladder irritants like alcohol, coffee, and carbonated beverages.
- Performing pelvic floor muscle-strengthening exercises.
- Preventing constipation.
- Urinating at regular intervals.
Medication
Depending on the severity of BPH symptoms, medication may be necessary. Two main types of drugs are used: those that reduce the size of the prostate and those that relax the prostate muscles to ease urination.
Surgical Interventions
In more advanced cases or when complications arise, surgical intervention may be needed to alleviate symptoms by reducing the size of the prostate.
Various surgical options exist, including:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Simple prostatectomy.
- Laser enucleation of the prostate.
- Laser vaporization of the prostate.
- Balloon dilation of the prostate using chemotherapy (Optilume).
- Water vapor therapy (Rezūm).
- UroLift implants.
- Water jet ablation therapy (Aquablation).
One minimally invasive option is laser enucleation of the prostate using MOSES 2.0 technology, which can treat BPH regardless of prostate size or shape. This same-day surgical procedure offers a rapid recovery time and provides longer-lasting results compared to other approaches.