The prostate gland is a walnut-shaped organ located below a man's bladder that makes seminal fluid. It actually surrounds a portion of the bladder and the beginning of the urethra, the tube that carries urine away from the bladder.

If they live long enough, most men will eventually get an enlarged prostate gland. Doctors call it benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

An enlarged prostate is usually not cancerous or life threatening. It may cause some problems such as:

• Increased urgency to urinate.
• Frequent urination, especially during the night.
• Delay in onset of urine flow.
• Diminished or slow stream of urine flow.
• Incomplete emptying of the bladder.

These symptoms indicate that the prostate gland has enlarged enough to partially obstruct the flow of urine. Sometimes, BPH causes a urinary tract infection. Over time, a few men might have bladder or kidney problems or both.

Your doctor can diagnose BPH through a number of things. These include:

• A physical exam which includes asking questions about your current symptoms and past medical problems, an examination of your prostate gland, checking your urine for signs of infection and a blood test to see if the prostate has affected your kidneys.
• Tests that measure urine flow, the amount of urine left in your bladder after you urinate and the pressure in your bladder as your urinate.
• A blood test called Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) which can help find prostate cancer. Not all doctors agree that being tested for PSA levels lowers a patient's chance of dying from prostate cancer. The PSA test is not always accurate either. You should discuss this test with your doctor.
• Other tests such as X-rays, cystoscopy (the doctor looks directly at the prostate and bladder) and an ultrasound (sound wave pictures of the prostate, kidneys or bladder). Many men do not need these tests. They are costly and are not very helpful for most men with BPH.

Treatment for BPH varies depending on symptoms. Discuss the benefits and possible problems with your doctor for each treatment option. Treatment options include:

• Watchful waiting - getting regular exams to see if your BPH is causing problems or getting worse
• Medications - There are two types:
  • Alpha blockers which help relax muscles in the prostate. Hytrin is the only one approved for BPH treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Finasteride (Proscar) which causes the prostate to shrink

There is no evidence that these medications reduce the rate of BPH complications or the need for future surgery. They can have side effects, too, so you will need to see your doctor for monitoring.

• Balloon dilation - a surgical procedure done in the operating room or doctor's office. A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the penis through the urethra and into the bladder. The balloon is inflated to stretch the urethra which aims at allowing urine to flow more easily.
  Prev Page12 Next Page