Benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, is common in men over 50 and is a non-cancerous (benign) growth of the prostate gland - the male gland that produces and secretes a fluid in which sperm is transported.¹ The urethra - the tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder through to the penis - passes through the prostate gland.  If the prostate becomes enlarged, as it does in BPH, it may pinch the urethra partially or even completely closed, obstructing the flow of urine.  The cause of BPH isn’t known, but it may involve changes in hormone levels that occur as men get older.²

BPH first causes symptoms when the enlarged prostate begins to block the flow of urine.  This can cause difficulty in starting to urinate; a feeling that urination has been incomplete; a strong, sudden need to urinate; frequent need to urinate, especially at night; and a weak urinary stream.
By feeling the prostate during a rectal examination, a doctor can usually determine if it is enlarged.  Blood tests that measure kidney function are generally performed, as is a blood test that screens people for prostate cancer by measuring levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).¹

Choices of drug treatment include drugs that shrink the prostate helping to delay the need for surgery and drugs that relieve the clinical symptoms of BPH by relaxing the muscles at the bladder outlet.

Surgery is used to treat severe cases of BPH.  Surgery is used when patients have one or more of the following problems: an inability urinate; backup or urine into the kidneys leading to kidney damage; frequent urinary tract infections; major bleeding through the penis caused by BPH; and/or stones in the urinary bladder.

If the symptoms are severe, non-surgical invasive procedures may provide an effective alternative to major surgery.

Treatment should be tailored to the individual, if side effects occur, it is important to discuss these with your doctor who can look at changing the dose or switching to an alternative therapy.

Sometimes the symptoms of BPH remain at a tolerable level for an indefinite period and intervention is not recommended. In these cases, the doctor may decide to review symptoms on a regular basis – a ‘watchful waiting’ approach. This allows the patient to see if their symptoms are worsening and enables the doctor to identify any changes that might indicate the need for active treatment.

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