An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common issue for older men. It causes the prostate gland to grow, leading to urinary problems and other symptoms.
Signs of BPH include needing to pee often, slow or weak urine flow, and trouble starting or stopping peeing. Men might also feel like their bladder doesn’t empty completely. These issues can make life less enjoyable and sometimes need help from a doctor.
Though we don’t fully know why BPH happens, it seems that changes in hormones and getting older are big factors. As men get older, they might have less testosterone but more estrogen. This balance change can make the prostate get bigger.
To check for an enlarged prostate, you’ll need a detailed physical exam and to talk about your health history. Doctors might also do a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and a biopsy. This helps them be sure it’s not cancer and to choose the best treatment.
There are many ways to treat an enlarged prostate, starting with medicine. Doctors often prescribe drugs like alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These can relax the muscles and decrease the size of the prostate, lessening symptoms.
If medicines don’t work well, there are also some small surgeries to help, like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This and other procedures can make urinary issues better without big incisions.
Key Takeaways:
- Enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common issue for older men.
- Symptoms of BPH can include needing to pee a lot, having a slow urine stream, and feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder.
- Changes in hormones and aging are thought to be behind BPH.
- Doctors diagnose it through exams, talking about past health, and running specific tests.
- The treatments for BPH range from drugs to surgery, and there’s also stem cell therapy that might help regrow prostate tissue.
Causes and Risk Factors of Enlarged Prostate
The exact causes of an enlarged prostate are not fully understood. Hormonal changes, such as less testosterone and more estrogen, might lead to BPH. BPH is more common as men get older. Genetics could also play a part in who gets an enlarged prostate.
Few men know why their prostate grows. But, many factors might add up. Things like getting older, your genes, and changes in hormone levels could be to blame. It’s not just one thing, but a mix of several.
If prostate problems run in your family, you might have a higher risk. This hints that genes could be involved in BPH.
Being overweight, having diabetes, or heart issues might put you at risk, too. These problems can cause your body, including your prostate, to be inflamed. And, this inflammation could lead to BPH.
But, even if you have these health issues, it doesn’t mean you’ll get an enlarged prostate. It’s a mix of many factors. And, everyone’s situation is different.
Risk Factors for Enlarged Prostate:
- Hormonal changes
- Aging
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Prostate inflammation
Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate
Diagnosing an enlarged prostate, or BPH, needs a thorough approach. Doctors check you and review your history. They also use the PSA blood test to see if you might have prostate cancer. What’s more, a biopsy might be done to rule out cancer.
For treating an enlarged prostate, many options exist. One way is using medicine. Doctors often prescribe alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These help by relaxing and shrinking the prostate. They can greatly improve symptoms for a lot of people. But, if they don’t work or cause problems, there are other choices.
Two common procedures for BPH are TURP and laser prostatectomy. TURP cuts away extra prostate tissue to help urine flow better. Laser prostatectomy uses laser light to get rid of the extra tissue. Both methods are good at making symptoms better and improving quality of life.
Doctors are also using stem cell therapy to treat BPH. This new method involves injecting stem cells into the prostate. It aims to repair and grow new tissue in the prostate. Stem cell therapy might reduce symptoms and make the prostate healthier, providing a non-surgical option for some people.