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BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Commonly known as BPH (“benign prostatic hypertrophy”), or Enlarged Prostate, prostate regrowth is a natural and fairly common process in men as age increases. The prostate is an organ generally the size of a lemon whose function is to produce seminal fluid. It is found around the urethra and near the bladder. The problem arises when it grows in such a way that it partially (or sometimes totally) obstructs the flow of fluid through the urinary canal. This can cause many symptoms that can affect the quality of life of patients, ranging from urinary frequency to sexual ability.

How do I know if I have an enlarged prostate?

Urinary obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate can present in different ways and in varying degrees of severity.

ENLARGED PROSTATE

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So what options do I have to improve my symptoms?

The management and treatment options are many and varied.

Remark: many gentlemen choose not to undergo treatment for fear of erectile dysfunction that could happen if the prostate is treated. However, they risk suffering more severe consequences and manifestations (in the short and/or long term) of their urinary symptoms, which include urinary retention requiring chronic use of penile tubes, bladder stone formation, dysfunction erectile, irreparable damage to the bladder, damage to kidney function, recurrent urinary infections, among other conditions.
Medications: Many patients, especially those with less severe symptoms, can be treated with medications to improve urine flow and to slow prostate growth.
Minimally invasive procedures: The goal of these procedures is to obtain a patent urinary canal and improve the flow of urine. The fear of erectile dysfunction makes many patients prefer not to have their prostate treated with surgery. Fortunately, we now have options whose risk of causing impotence is virtually zero, requiring only local anesthesia.

Rezūm® is an outpatient procedure performed in the office, which consists of treating regrowth by injecting water vapor, introduced through an applicator through the urethra (urinary canal). After treatment, the clogging tissue that receives the treatment disappears as the treated cells die.
Urolift® is a fast and office treatment, which consists of the insertion of “clips” that mechanically open the urinary canal immediately, without affecting the erection nerves.
Transurethral resection of the prostate is usually an outpatient treatment that requires regional or general anesthesia. The excess prostate tissue is removed or vaporized with lasers. This treatment is effective and is the most used around the planet. The risk of orgasm without ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and bleeding, is greater than the first two treatments.