Mens Health

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on prostate enlargement. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/ Medline Plus: Prostate Enlargementhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000381.htm National Cancer Institute: Understanding Prostate Changeshttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening/understanding-prostate-changes/page1/AllPages

Prostate removal, or prostatectomy, is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a man’s prostate gland. This procedure is performed to treat: Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) Prostate cancer The prostate, a gland found only in males, is located under the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the

Prostate removal generally is performed for one of two reasons: Prostate enlargement Prostate cancer For Prostate Enlargement There are a variety of treatments for prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). These treatments include medication and the use of lasers guided through the urethra to destroy excess prostate tissue. Prostate removal is considered when: The prostate

After a prostatectomy, a man will stay in the hospital up to five days, although the length of hospital stays for most surgical procedures continues to decrease. The length of stay will depend on a man’s overall health, speed of recovery, and the nature of the surgery. If you will be having a prostatectomy, you

The two possible complications associated with prostate removal (prostatectomy) are: Incontinence Impotence Incontinence For some men, the inability to control urination may be a long-term consequence of surgery, rather than a temporary problem. This form of incontinence is usually the result of surgical damage to the bladder wall or surrounding muscles or nerves. Incontinence may

For men who have a prostatectomy to treat prostate enlargement, there is usually a substantial improvement in urine flow. About 90 percent of men with an enlarged prostate benefit significantly from the procedure. Even if a man’s bladder has been weakened because of the enlarged prostate, the urgency to urinate is reduced, although the frequency

Several clinical or laboratory tests can help the urologist: Diagnose the cause of the urinary problem Determine the best course of treatment Blood Tests Generally, the urologist will test your blood to assess kidney function and the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein present in the normal prostate gland as well as in

The effectiveness of the various treatments for BPH is determined by: How well the urine flow has improved A reduction in the number of times or the need to pass urine In general, the results from surgical treatments have been significantly better than those from medical treatments. Your doctor can help you determine which treatment option is best

The right treatment depends on the severity of a man’s symptoms. If Your Symptoms Are Mild Individuals with mild symptoms of BPH usually elect “watchful waiting,” which is careful monitoring without active treatment. About a third of all patients with mild symptoms improve on their own, without any other treatment, when followed with the watchful

Following surgery, the body needs time to recover. You can expect the following: Blood may appear in the urine. This blood should gradually disappear as the urethra mends. You may experience a sense of urgency to urinate, even as the flow of urine is more vigorous and steady. The experience should lessen over time, although

All medical and surgical treatments involve some risk. This is especially true for surgical procedures such as TUIP, TURP, and open prostatectomy. Impotence Following surgery for BPH, the incidence of impotence can range between four and 30 percent, depending on the surgical technique employed. Impotence means an inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Following surgery for

The treatments for BPH do work. Many men are cured of their symptoms, but some require re-treatment. BPH that creates urinary symptoms can be treated by numerous medical procedures and minimally invasive surgical options. Today, open surgery is no longer necessary in most cases. The array of medical and surgical techniques allows better choices that