Enlarged Prostate or BPH (Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia) is a natural condition where the prostate gland slowly
grows, causing pressure on the urethra, similar to a clamp on a garden hose.
Common Symptoms of enlarged prostate
include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Sudden need to urinate
- Difficulty beginning urination
- Pain or burning
- Feeling that your bladder never completely empties
- Dribbling or leaking
- Weak urine stream
Loss of Personal Freedom
Many men report changes to lifestyle
such as avoiding travel, interruption of leisure activities and using bathroom
stalls instead of urinals. Frequent trips to the bathroom can disrupt sleep.
A
Simple and Effective Solution
If these symptoms are familiar to
you, or if you are changing your lifestyle to accommodate urinary problems, you
should know that there is a simple solution. It is called GreenLight™ Laser
Therapy. This therapy can free you from urinary problems without compromising
lifestyle or health, giving you the green light to live life the way you want
to, without compromise.
Understanding the Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland
that forms part of the male reproductive system. The prostate secretes fluid
that carries sperm. It surrounds the urethra, the canal which carries urine
from the bladder out of the body.
With age and time, the prostate
enlarges causing pressure on the urethra, similar to a clamp on a garden hose.
This causes problems with urination.
Words
to Know
- Prostate — A walnut-sized gland that secretes prostatic
fluid which carries sperm
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) — A non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate that restricts urine flow
- Incontinence — Inability to control or hold back urine
- Impotence — Failure to achieve or to maintain an
erection
- Retrograde Ejaculation — When semen travels up the
urethra towards the bladder instead of outside of the body
- Catheter — A thin, flexible tube inserted through the
penis used to drain urine from the bladder
- Cystoscope — An instrument that allows the doctor to
examine the bladder and prostate
Diagnosis
You may first notice symptoms of
enlarged prostate (BPH) yourself, or your doctor may find that your prostate is
enlarged during a routine checkup. When enlarged prostate (BPH) is suspected,
you may be referred to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in problems of the
urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Several tests help the doctor
identify the problem and decide the best course of treatment. The tests vary
from patient to patient, but the following are the most common.
Digital
Rectal Exam (DRE)
This exam is usually the first test
done. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the part of
the prostate next to the rectum. This exam gives the doctor a general idea of
the size and condition of the gland.
Prostate
Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test
In order to rule out cancer as a
cause of urinary symptoms, your doctor may recommend a PSA blood test. PSA, a
protein produced by prostate cells, is frequently present at elevated levels in
the blood of men who have prostate cancer.
Rectal
Ultrasound
If there is a suspicion of prostate
cancer, your doctor may recommend a test with rectal ultrasound. In this
procedure, a probe inserted in the rectum directs sound waves at the prostate.
The echo patterns of the sound waves form an image of the prostate gland on a
display screen.
Urine
Flow Study
Sometimes the doctor will ask a
patient to urinate into a special device which measures how quickly the urine
is flowing. A reduced flow often suggests BPH.
Intravenous
Pyelogram (IVP)
IVP is an x-ray of the urinary
tract. In this test, a dye is injected into a vein, and the x-ray is taken. The
dye makes the urine visible on the x-ray and shows any obstruction or blockage
in the urinary tract.
Cystoscopy
In this exam, the doctor inserts a
small tube through the opening of the urethra in the penis. This test allows
the doctor to determine the size of the gland and identify the location and
degree of the obstruction.
