What is BPH?
BPH is a condition marked by the abnormal enlargement of your prostate. This walnut-sized gland is responsible for producing the fluid suspension that protects your sperm. Prostate enlargement is extremely common in older men, affecting roughly 70% of men in the United States between 60 and 69 years of age.
There are varying degrees of prostate enlargement. If detected before complications become too advanced, BPH is highly treatable.
What are the common symptoms of BPH?
The severity of BPH symptoms can vary widely, but symptoms typically worsen over time if the condition is left untreated. Some common symptoms of BPH are:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Increased nighttime urination frequency
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak urine stream
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- Inability to empty the bladder
- Blood in the urine
The degree to which your prostate has enlarged doesn't necessarily determine the severity of your symptoms. Sometimes, slight enlargement of the prostate can cause noticeable symptoms. Conversely, men with seriously enlarged prostates can have only minor urinary symptoms.
What causes BPH?
It's not always clear what causes the prostate to become abnormally enlarged. However, some experts feel that changes in the balance of sex hormones as men grow older could play a significant role.
Some BPH risk factors to consider include:
- Aging
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
Make sure to come in and see Dr. Marella for your regularly scheduled prostate checks. Depending on your age, family history, and medical history, Dr. Marella will determine how frequently you should come in to have your prostate examined.
How do you treat BPH?
There are a host of effective treatments for prostate gland enlargement. Your options include medications, minimally invasive therapies, and surgery. Your personalized treatment will depend on Dr. Marella's diagnosis after an exam, blood tests, urine tests, and imaging.
You and Dr. Marella will consider your symptoms, the size of your prostate, and other health conditions you might have before you decide on a course of action.
In less severe cases, Dr. Marella could suggest simple monitoring of your BPH and offer medication to treat symptoms gradually. In other cases, minimally invasive therapies and robotic surgery like a prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) might be necessary.
To learn more about BPH treatment options, call the office or schedule an appointment with Dr. Marella online today.
We have offices conveniently located in Wayne, New Jersey and Clifton, New Jersey.
