BPH

What is BPH?

BPH, also called prostate gland enlargement, is a condition that can cause a range of urinary symptoms like difficulty urinating. 

Usually, BPH grows worse over time. As the prostate grows larger, it pressures the urethra and starts to affect urine flow. Many, and in fact most, men suffer from BPH as they enter their senior years. 

BPH isn’t the same as prostate cancer, however, it carries risks of its own. If you don’t treat BPH, it could eventually lead to bladder damage, kidney damage, bladder stones, chronic urinary tract infections, or urinary retention. 

What are the symptoms of BPH?

The most common symptoms of BPH can include:

• More frequent urination, especially at night
• Increased sudden urge to urinate 
• Straining to urinate
• Weak or sporadic urine stream
• Dribbling after urinating
• Urinary incontinence (urinary leakage)
• Discolored or odorous urine

The degree of prostate enlargement doesn’t necessarily play a role in your BPH symptoms. You could have mild symptoms with a seriously enlarged prostate or severe symptoms with an only slightly enlarged prostate. 

How is BPH treated?

In the vast majority of cases, BPH is a highly treatable condition. The urology specialists at Arizona Urology use minimally invasive treatment options rather than putting you through unnecessary surgery. 

Although medication can improve your symptoms, you have to keep taking the medicine permanently to get continued symptom relief. 

The GreenLight™laser is often effective for BPH symptoms, and it’s a quick in-office treatment. UroLift® is a popular minimally invasive procedure that permanently shifts your prostate tissue to prevent urinary blockage.

What is UroLift?

UroLift is an outpatient procedure with minimal downtime, and it can completely relieve your BPH symptoms in as little as two weeks. 

In the UroLift procedure, your Arizona Urology urologist uses a thin needle to place a small group of implants in your urethra while you are sedated in the office. The UroLift implants correct urethra blockage by holding the prostate out of the way of the flow of urine. 

UroLift is a permanent solution for BPH, and the procedure includes no incisions, no tissue removal, and no ablation. This treatment allows the majority of patients to stop their BPH medication. 

Because it’s a long-term solution, you’re unlikely to need surgery for BPH in the future. Talk to your urologist about whether UroLift is right for you.

BPH doesn’t have to cause lasting damage. With the help of your Arizona Urology specialist, it won’t even slow you down. Call the office nearest you to book today.