Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urologic condition caused by the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland as men get older. As the prostate enlarges, it can squeeze down on the urethra. This can cause men to have trouble urinating and can lead to symptoms of BPH. The symptoms associated with BPH are known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Risk factors for developing BPH include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- A family history of BPH
- Increasing age
- Lack of physical activity
- Obesity
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Since the prostate is just below the bladder, its enlargement can result in symptoms that irritate or obstruct the bladder. Common symptoms are:
- The need to frequently empty the bladder, especially at night
- Difficulty in beginning to urinate
- Dribbling after urination ends
- Decreased size and strength of the urine stream
- The sensation that the bladder is not empty, even after a man is done urinating
- Inability to postpone urination once the urge to urinate begins
- Pushing or straining in order to urinate
In extreme cases, a man might not be able to urinate at all, which is an emergency that requires prompt attention.
How is BPH Diagnosed?
In order to help assess the severity of such symptoms, the American Urological Association (AUA) BPH Symptom Score Index was developed. This diagnostic system includes a series of questions that ask how often the urinary symptoms identified above occur and the amount of bother from these symptoms. This helps measure how severe the BPH is, ranging from mild to severe.
When a doctor evaluates someone for possible BPH, the evaluation will typically consist of a thorough medical history, an examination of the urinary sediment (urinalysis), a physical examination including a digital rectal exam or DRE, and use of the AUA BPH Symptom Score Index. In addition, the doctor will generally do a urine test called a urinalysis.
There are a series of other studies that may or may not be offered to a patient being evaluated for BPH depending on the patient’s current medical condition. These include:
- Cystoscopy — a direct look into the urethra and/or bladder using a small flexible scope
- Measurement of post-void residual volume (PVR) — the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA) — a blood test to screen for prostate cancer
- Ultrasound of the kidney or the prostate — to view the enlargement
- Urinary cytology — a urine test to screen for bladder cancer
- Urodynamic pressure-flow study — tests the pressure inside the bladder during urination
- Uroflowmetry, or urine flow study — a measure of how fast urine flows when a man urinates
When should I see a doctor about BPH?
A man should see a doctor if he is bothered by any of the symptoms mentioned above. In addition, he should see a doctor immediately if he has blood in the urine, pain or burning with urination, or is unable to urinate.
What are some of the medical treatments available for BPH?
Watchful Waiting
This treatment option is good for patients who have mild symptoms of BPH but are not bothered by their symptoms. Patients suffering from kidney problems as a result of BPH, urinary retention (suddenly being unable to urinate) or frequent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence are not good candidates for this treatment option.
During watchful waiting, a patient is closely monitored by his physician but does not receive any active treatment. Many patients’ symptoms can be controlled and/or managed by changing their current medications and diet. Patients will be examined yearly, and findings from the tests will be used to determine if additional treatment is needed in order to control a patient’s BPH.
The risk of watchful waiting may be that the patient’s symptoms cannot be reduced after active treatment is started.
Medical Therapies
These drugs, originally used to treat high blood pressure, work by relaxing the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow and reduce bladder outlet obstruction. Although alpha blockers may relieve the symptoms of BPH, they usually do not reduce the size of the prostate. They are usually taken orally once or twice a day, and work almost immediately. Commonly prescribed alpha-blockers include:
- Silodosin (Rapaflo®)
- Alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
- Tamsulosin (Flomax)
- Doxazosin (Cardura)
- Terazosin (Hytrin)
All of these drugs have the same level of effectiveness and side effects. Side effects can include headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue and ejaculatory dysfunction. These medications are beneficial for patients who have bothersome to moderate-severe BPH.
Patients who are undergoing cataract surgery may be advised by their physician against taking these medications until after surgery.
Finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) are oral medications used to treat BPH. In select men, finasteride and dutasteride can relieve BPH symptoms, increase urinary flow rate and actually shrink the prostate, although these medications must be used indefinitely to prevent symptoms.
Studies suggest that these medications may be best suited for men with relatively large prostate glands. These drugs reduce the risk of BPH complications such as acute urinary retention — suddenly being unable to urinate — and the eventual need for BPH surgery. Side effects generally are sexually related and include erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and reduced semen released during ejaculation.
Finasteride should not be used if men do not have prostate enlargement. Finasteride has been shown to cause more adverse effects at the beginning of its use; however, over a period of time, the side effects of finasteride and dutasteride become equal.
The use of both alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors have shown to be superior to single drug therapies in men with larger prostates. The combination approach prevents the progression of the disease and improves bothersome symptoms. However, this improved benefit may be associated with more side effects or possible side effects from both medications.
Another medical therapy that is an appropriate and effective treatment alternative for the management of symptoms related to BPH. These medicines focus on overactivity of the bladder, that may or may not be associated with BPH.
These compounds, also known as herbal therapies, are very popular self-treatment remedies. Currently, there is no dietary supplement, complementary alternative medicine or therapy that is recommended for the management of BPH. Furthermore, the quality and purity of these over-the-counter supplements are not rigorously monitored, adding further uncertainty about the value and safety of these products.
Saw palmetto, one of the more popular dietary supplements used by men, has been shown to provide no benefit over a placebo for the treatment of BPH conditions and LUTS.
Advanced Minimally Invasive Therapies
Since the advent of medical therapy for symptomatic BPH with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and alpha-adrenergic blockers, the need for immediate surgical intervention in symptomatic prostatic obstruction has been reduced substantially. However, alpha blockers do not modify prostate growth, and even the use of prostatic growth inhibitors such as finasteride or dutasteride often fails to prevent the recurrent LUTS of BPH and urinary retention. In the past, these patients would almost certainly have undergone more invasive treatment earlier in the disease process.
The UroLift® System is a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach to treating an enlarged prostate, or BPH, that lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue.
This system uses the stored thermal energy in steam to destroy the cells in the excess prostate tissue. With the tissue damaged, pressure on the urethra is relieved so normal urine flow can resume. Over time, the body naturally reabsorbs the treated prostate tissue.
TUMT is a minimally invasive treatment that uses microwaves to cause thermal injury to the prostate while providing relief for bladder obstruction.
TUNA is a minimally-invasive surgical therapy of the prostate utilized to treat BPH. It is performed by placing interstitial radiofrequency (RF) needles through the urethra and into the lateral lobes of the prostate, causing heat-induced coagulation necrosis.
Aquablation® is a minimally invasive surgical treatment option for an enlarged prostate. Enlarged prostate tissue is targeted and removed with a heat-free waterjet, under the supervision of your surgeon, utilizing the robotic AquaBeam System.
Before deciding if any of these treatment options are best, make sure to discuss with your physician the following:
- Current symptoms and bother from these symptoms
- Size of prostate
- The potential benefits and risks associated with any form of treatment, including watchful waiting
The following are factors that a patient should consider before deciding on a particular option:
- Discussion with a physician about the potential risks and benefits
- Presentation (symptoms and how the patient feels about those symptoms)
- Size of prostate
- Surgeon’s experience
Surgical Techniques
There are many surgical procedures to treat BPH. Surgery is the most invasive approach and is typically reserved for patients suffering from moderate to severe BPH-related LUTS or complications which arise from BPH (e.g., urinary retention, progressive LUTS, recurrent urine infection). It is generally reserved for patients who have not been able to successfully treat the condition with other treatment options or for those who present with moderate to severe BPH.
The following are the generally accepted surgical treatment options:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) — Has excellent outcomes and is the gold standard. All treatment options are generally compared to this approach.
- Simple prostatectomy — This surgery involves the removal of the inner portion of the prostate via a minimally-invasive robotic, open or conventional approach. It is reserved for men with significantly enlarged prostate glands. The major risks associated with this treatment are the potential blood loss, need for transfusion and a longer hospital stay. Outcomes are generally very effective with this approach in these patients.
- Transurethral holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP)
- Transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP)
- Holmium laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP)
- Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP)
- Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)
- Transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP)
