Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
ENLARGED PROSTATE BPH SPECIALISTS IN RIVERSIDE, CA
Ken Takesita, MD at Mission Urology are leaders in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of enlarged prostate. When it comes to optimal outcomes related to an enlarged prostrate (BPH), experience and expertise do matter.
WHAT IS THE PROSTATE?
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland located in the male pelvis that sits between the bladder and the urethra just above the rectum. Urine passes through the prostate like a train through a tunnel as it passes into the male urethra during urination.
The exact function of the prostate is still largely unknown. The prostate contributes a small amount of fluid to the semen that assists the sperm to survive and navigate the female reproductive tract leading to fertilization of an egg. The majority of the seminal fluid is contributed by the seminal vesicles which are grape-like sacs attached to the posterior surface of the prostate. The prostate does not play any role in sexual desire or erectile function.
WHAT IS BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY (BPH) OR ENLARGED PROSTATE?
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) or enlarged prostate is also known as Benign Prostatic Growth or Benign Prostatic Enlargement. BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that affects more than 50% of men over the age of 60.
Although BPH (enlarged prostate) universally affects all aging males, it does so in varying degrees. Despite extensive basic science and clinical research on this subject, the pathogenesis of BPH remains poorly understood. What is clear is that BPH (enlarged prostate) is a complex disease with a multifactorial etiology involving both age and hormonal status.
There are two main periods of growth of the prostate. The first occurs during puberty when the prostate is known to double in size. The second period of growth begins in the third decade of life and continues throughout life eventually resulting in symptoms of BPH (enlarged prostate) in the aging male.
WHY DO SOME MEN HAVE PROSTATE PROBLEMS AND OTHERS DO NOT?
All men who live past a certain age will develop BPH on a microscopic level, however, only 50% of these men develop macroscopic growth of the prostate meaning that they have a measurable physical increase in the size of the prostate. Of those who have macroscopic BPH, only 50% will actually have clinical symptoms such as urgency, frequency, nocturia, decreased force of stream, difficulty initiating void and even incontinence. It is interesting that there are some men with extremely large prostates with minimal symptoms and other men with very small prostates and highly bothersome symptoms.
HOW DOES THE PROSTATE CAUSE SYMPTOMS IN THE AGING MALE?
As the prostate enlarges, it slows down the flow of urine as it passes from the bladder to the urethra just like a kink in a garden hose. In the early phases of obstruction caused by the prostate, the patient experiences few symptoms because the bladder is able to compensate for increased resistance to the flow of urine by increasing the force of its contraction during urination. However, as the degree of obstruction increases, the patient begins to experience a host of symptoms that has come to be known as “prostatism” or “LUTS” (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms). These bothersome symptoms are well known to that aging male and are typically the catalyst for making an appointment to see a urologist.
Symptoms of obstruction include decreased force of urinary stream, difficulty initiating urination, intermittent or prolonged urination, post void dribbling, a sensation of incomplete emptying, the urgency of urination, urinary retention and incontinence. Many of these symptoms can be attributed to changes that occur in the bladder as a result of having to force urine through an obstructed prostate. Similar to how skeletal muscle responds to increasing resistance and exercise, the smooth muscle of the bladder wall becomes stronger and thicker over time contracting with even minimal quantities of urine.
WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF BPH OR ENLARGED PROSTATE?
- Urinary Retention
- Bladder Stones
- Gross Hematuria (blood in the urine)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
SPECIALIZED PROSTRATE TREATMENT AND PROCEDURES
Rezum is a minimally invasive transurethral water vapor therapy for benign prostatic enlargement which uses thermal energy for treatment. When medication and other nonsurgical treatments aren’t able to effectively reduce the symptoms of BPH, Rezum can make a significant difference in a patient’s quality of life. Rezum works by inserting sterile water vapor (steam) into the prostate gland during nine-second treatments. The therapy is targeted to a defined area because steam will travel only between cells until it encounters natural collagen barriers or the prostate capsule itself.
Urolift System® - Treatment with the UroLift® System is typically a one-time, in-office solution that provides rapid relief and recovery of BPH symptoms. It can break the cycle of medications and how they make a person feel, all without the risks of more invasive surgery. The goal of the UroLift System treatment is to relieve symptoms so you can get back to your life and resume your daily activities.
The UroLift System treatment has demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life for patients compared to medications. The UroLift System is the only BPH procedure shown not to cause new and lasting erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction*, while being a safe and effective treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH.
Contact Mission Urology for an initial consultation and examination if you have any symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
