As men age, the prostate gland—a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder—naturally undergoes hormonal changes and grows. This condition is called **Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)**. It is non-cancerous, but because the prostate surrounds the urethra, its enlargement squeezes the urinary tube, causing troublesome urinary symptoms.
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
BPH symptoms usually develop gradually and include:
- Nocturia: The frequent need to wake up at night to urinate (often 3-4 times).
- Urgent Stream: Sudden, strong urges to urinate, sometimes with urinary leakage.
- Weak stream: A slow or interrupted urinary flow.
- Incomplete Emptying: Feeling like the bladder is not empty even after finishing urination.
- Post-void Dribbling: Dribbling of urine at the end of micturition.
Diagnostic Evaluation
To rule out prostate cancer and evaluate BPH, a urologist performs:
- PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Test: A simple blood test.
- Uroflowmetry: A test to measure the speed and volume of urinary flow.
- Ultrasound (KUB): To measure prostate size and check if urine is left in the bladder after voiding (Post-Void Residual volume).
Management and Treatments
1. Medical Therapy: For mild to moderate cases, medications like Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) relax bladder neck muscles, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride) shrink the prostate over time.
2. Minimally Invasive Surgery (TURP/HoLEP): For severe cases or blockages, urologists perform **TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)** or **HoLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate)**. Using scopes passed naturally, the excess prostate tissue blocking flow is safely removed without external cuts.
Urinary symptoms should not be accepted as a normal part of aging. Consult a urologist to prevent bladder damage or kidney stones caused by chronic retention.