Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

The prostate gland secretes fluid that carries sperm. The gland surrounds the urethra, the canal that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. With age and time, the prostate enlarges, causing pressure on the urethra, similar to a clamp on a garden hose. This causes problems with urination. The most common symptoms of an enlarged prostate include weak urine stream, intermittency, difficulty beginning urination and occasionally, the feeling of incomplete emptying. Over time, the bladder muscle thickens as it works against an enlarged prostate. When this happens, the patient can experience urinary frequency, urgency or urge incontinence, and the need to urinate more at night.

There are several ways to treat BPH. These include surgery, medical treatment, and watchful waiting. The best treatment option depends on the patient’s age, overall health status, how much the patient is bothered by his symptoms, and how enlarged the prostate becomes. We use prostate ultrasound and biopsy to diagnose prostate disorders and prostate cancer.