- What is BPH or enlarged prostate?
- Does every man eventually have an enlarged prostate as they age?
- What options does a man have to relieve the symptoms of BPH?
- What is Prostiva RF Therapy?
- How does TUNA/Prostiva work, and how is it different from other treatments?
- What is it like to undergo the TUNA/Prostiva treatment?
- What results can I expect and when
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Q: Does every man eventually have an enlarged prostate as they age?
A. The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that forms part of the male reproductive system which secretes fluids that help transport sperm. The prostate is located just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the canal that empties urine from the bladder via the penis.
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that restricts the flow of urine from the bladder. There are two growth periods that cause the prostate to enlarge. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. The second begins around age 25 and often results years later in BPH. As the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable and begins to contract even when it contains only small amounts of urine. These contractions cause the bladder to weaken, so it doesn't empty completely. The symptoms of BPH are often called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Symptoms of BPH include:
- More frequent urination, especially at night
- Sudden need to urinate
- Need to strain or push bladder when beginning to urinate
- Weak, variable, or dribbling stream
- Pain or burning during urination
- Sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
If you're a man over the age of 50 and you wake up several times during the night to urinate, you're not alone. Millions of men over 50 suffer from an enlarged prostate - benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - resulting in sleepless nights. It is not a life-threatening disease, but it does threaten quality of life. BPH can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and inconvenient.
If your quality of life is being negatively effected by these symptoms, please call one of us at Urologic Surgeons of Washington and we would be happy to determine during your visit, how best we may help you.