In this Article
Prostate Enlargement
Prostate Enlargement: Which Treatment Option Is Right For Me?
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 “
If Your Symptoms Are Moderate To Severe
Depending on how the symptoms are affecting quality of life, men with moderate symptoms may:
- Elect watchful waiting
- Opt for medical treatment with an
alpha blocker or enzyme blocker - If possible, select a minimally-invasive surgical procedure such as
balloon urethroplasty , TURP, or TUIP - Require open surgery because of need, as determined by the surgeon in consultation with the individual
Who May Need Surgery?
A man may be a candidate for surgery if he has any of the following significant complications:
- Inability to urinate because of an enlarged
prostate gland - Recurring
urinary tract infections - Noticeable blood in the
urine , either persistent over time or reappearing from time to time - The presence of
bladder stones because of stagnating urine - A condition called renal or kidney insufficiency, which occurs when an inability to urinate causes the concentration of potentially toxic urea in the bloodstream, resulting in a poisoning of the body
- Backward pressure of the urine on the kidneys causes them to swell
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Nice To Know: Will my symptoms get worse if I decide not to undergo treatment? Because BPH may clear up spontaneously, selecting the option of “watchful waiting,” in which there is careful monitoring without active treatment, is a prudent course of action for men with mild-to-moderate symptoms, unless there are complications. When to receive treatment is usually a quality-of-life issue. If the symptoms interfere sufficiently with sleep, work, and social activities, and place undue stresses on your life, treatment is recommended. |