Caring for the Men in Your Life:
Relieving Problems with the Prostate
Is the man in your life waking up several times a night to urinate and complaining of severe discomfort? It might be signs of an enlarged prostate, a common problem that can make life miserable for men as they age.
In fact, nearly 80% of men will experience an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), sometime in their life. BPH does not increase your risk for prostate cancer. However, since BPH can cause extreme discomfort and disruption in your man’s life, suggesting that he talk to his doctor about his symptoms is an important first step in improving his quality of life… and yours.
The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system.It surrounds the upper part of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside) and is about the size of a walnut.
Because of its close proximity to the urethra, an enlarged prostate can press against the urethra, causing urine flow difficulties that include:
- Leaking or dribbling of urine
- Frequent urination
- Urgency to urinate
- Inability to urinate
- Weak urination stream
If these are persistent problems, you should suggest that in addition to his annual physical examination, he should ask his doctor about a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) and check his Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. This allows your physician to evaluate prostate problems, rule out prostate cancer, and make a better decision about whether to his condition can be treated with medication, nonsurgical procedures like balloon urethroplasty or transurethral microwave thermotherapy, or if surgery might be the best course of action.
At Lancaster General, we have a well trained group of urologists who specialize in a variety of BPH treatments. If medication and nonsurgical procedures are ineffective, surgical options include Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA), which applies radio frequency energy to burn away areas of the prostate and Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP), which uses a laser to vaporize the tissue of the prostate.
Many men do not have any problems as a result of an enlarged prostate. However, if you notice that the man in your life is experiencing discomfort and disruption, encourage him to find out more from his doctor about the many medical options available, and about things he can do to improve his prostate health.
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