Urology Treatments for BPH

BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, is a condition wherein the prostate gland becomes enlarged, often causing uncomfortable urinary symptoms. Many men live out their lives with this condition, often not knowing they have it. However, when it starts causing urinary symptoms that interfere with everyday life, urology offers several treatment options to men struggling with this uncomfortable condition. 

Medications

Sometimes medications, specifically alpha blockers, can control the urinary symptoms associated with BPH. Alpha reductase inhibitors can also stop the growth of the prostate by robbing stopping testosterone from changing into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which in some men seems to cause the prostatic growth. Sometimes alpha blockers can also shrink the prostate just a little, relieving the symptoms. This treatment needs to be monitored by a urology professional to ensure that there are no dangerous side effects and make sure it is working. 

Laser Therapy

All other treatments urology offers for BPH work to remove a portion of the prostate gland to relieve the symptoms. Laser therapy is one way to do this. In laser treatment, the surgeon uses a laser to burn off a portion of the prostate gland and relive the pressure.

Microwave Therapy

Urology also offers men with BPH microwave therapy, or TUMT. Again, this works by destroying some of the gland using microwaves. The transmitter is inserted through the urethra to deliver the treatment directly to the gland. 

HIFU

HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This technique removes some of the prostate through the power of ultrasound waves. This requires the use of a rectal probe to deliver the ultrasound waves directly into the prostate gland. Because the therapy also uses ultrasound to capture real time images of the prostate gland, it limits the number of complications common with other BPH treatments. The urology field is still seeking FDA approval for this treatment in the United States. 

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

If the BPH is quite severe, men may receive relief through surgery. A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) procedure is one of the most commonly used options. The TURP procedure removes a portion of the prostatic tissue using a resectoscope inserted through the urethra. This requires around three days of hospitalization in most cases. 

Holium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

The Holium Laser Enucleation works similar to the TURP, but uses a holium laser to remove the tissue. This limits the complications associated with TURP and shortens the hospitalization time.

Porstatectomy

The most invasive procedure urology offers patients suffering from BPH is a porstatectomy, or a full surgical removal of the gland. Typically, this is only used of complications prohibit the less invasive options or if the prostate is greatly enlarged. The risks are quite high, particularly of incontinence and impotence, so patients need to weigh the risks over the benefits of treating their BPH through surgery. 

As always, talk to your urologist about the benefits and risks before signing up for any treatment for your condition. Sometimes, the best course of action for BPH is to do nothing, since the conditions causes no damage and does not threaten life or health.