{"id":1224,"date":"2021-02-22T21:36:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T21:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brandywineuc.com\/?post_type=urological-condition&p=1224"},"modified":"2021-03-25T13:25:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T13:25:00","slug":"benign-prostatic-hyperplasia","status":"publish","type":"urological-condition","link":"https:\/\/www.brandywineuc.com\/urological-condition\/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia\/","title":{"rendered":"Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), is a common urological condition caused by the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland in aging men. As the prostate enlarges it squeezes down on the urethra causing men to have trouble or difficulty with urinating.  Risk factors for developing BPH include increasing age and a family history of BPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called benign prostatic hypertrophy, is not simply a case of too many prostate cells. Prostate growth involves hormones, occurs in different types of tissue (e.g., muscular, glandular), and affects men differently. As a result of these differences, treatment varies in each case. There is no cure for BPH and once prostate growth starts, it often continues, unless medical therapy is started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prostate grows in two different ways. In one type of growth, cells multiply around the urethra and squeeze it; much like you can squeeze a straw. The second type of growth is middle-lobe prostate growth in which cells grow into the urethra and the bladder outlet area. This type of prostate growth typically requires surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BPH is a very common condition with aging men and it will affect approximately 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men over the age of 80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Signs & Symptoms<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Since the prostate surrounds the urethra just below the bladder, its enlargement can result in symptoms that irritate or obstruct the bladder. The most common symptom is frequent urination (as often as every 2 hours) especially at night. Other symptoms include the sensation that the bladder is not empty even after urination or the inability to hold urine once the urge to urinate arises. BPH can cause a weak urinary stream, dribbling of urine, or the need to stop and start urinating several times when the bladder is emptied. BPH can cause trouble in starting to urinate, often requiring a man to push or strain in order to urinate. In extreme cases when a man is no able to urinate because of a significantly enlarged prostate can require emergency catheterization to empty the bladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man should see a doctor if he has any of the symptoms mentioned previously that are bothersome. In addition, he should see a doctor immediately if he has blood in the urine, pain with urination, burning with urination or is unable to urinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In order to help assess the severity of such symptoms, the American Urological Association (AUA) BPH Symptom Score Index was developed. This diagnostic system includes a series of questions that ask how often the urinary symptoms identified above occur. Please take the test on our site to learn your score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a doctor evaluates someone for possible BPH, the evaluation will typically consist of a thorough medical history, a physical examination (including a digital rectal examination of the prostate or DRE), and use of the AUA BPH Symptom Score Index. In addition, the doctor will generally do a urine test called a urinalysis. There are a series of other studies that may or may not be offered to a patient being evaluated for BPH depending on the clinical situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n