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As men age, they can develop difficulty urinating, either going frequently, having a weak urine stream, or leaking urine between trips to the restroom. This is a common symptom of an enlarged prostate gland, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This condition is noncancerous, affecting about 50% of men over 75. But younger men can develop this condition too. If you get up frequently to use the bathroom at night or leak urine before making it to the bathroom, the experienced medical team at Comprehensive Urology, in Los Angeles, California, can diagnose BPH and provide advanced solutions to help you regain bladder control.
What is BPH?
Your prostate gland is located just in front of your rectum and below your bladder. Its role is to produce fluid that makes semen for reproduction. BPH, or an enlarged prostate gland, is a common development with age. You may also be at an increased risk for BPH if you’re overweight or suffer from diabetes or heart disease. An enlarged prostate gland exerts pressure on your bladder and urethra, due to its location. Over time, this weakens your bladder and causes problems with urination. You can experience:
- An urgency to urinate frequently
- Difficulty urinating
- A weak urine stream
- Difficulty emptying your bladder
- Incomplete emptying of your bladder
- Leaking urine
- Blood in your urine
Without treatment, BPH can cause more problems with incontinence, UTIs, and kidney stones.
Diagnosis and treatment of BPH
Your urologist at Comprehensive Urology asks questions and evaluates any symptoms you’re having in order to diagnose BPH. We also obtain a blood sample, urine sample, and may perform a digital rectal exam and/or ultrasound of your bladder. We strive to gain a complete picture of your condition before crafting a treatment plan. Mild BPH symptoms can be treated with certain lifestyle modifications, like getting more exercise, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, avoiding certain medications, cutting off liquid intake a few hours before going to bed, and other actions. Sometimes, medication is also prescribed in addition to these modifications. More severe symptoms can be treated with several therapies. Among these are:
Rezum
Rezum is a minimally invasive therapy that uses water vapor to treat the symptoms of BPH. It’s performed right in our office.
UroLift
UroLift is a minimally invasive procedure that uses small implants to open up the obstructed pathway in your enlarged prostate.
Transurethral resection
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is surgery to remove excess prostate tissue. A minimally invasive alternative is the mini-TURP, performed in our office.
Microwave Therapy
Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) uses a thin antenna which is inserted through the urethra to emit microwave energy to heat and destroy prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine.
Robotic Prostatectomy
The team at Comprehensive Urology can perform robotic laparoscopic surgery to treat an enlarged prostate. This procedure is also used to treat prostate cancer. Your Comprehensive Urology practitioner works with you to develop the best treatment plan for your symptoms. To schedule a BPH consultation, call our office or request an appointment online today.