About BPH

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in men as they age. It refers to the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, which can lead to urinary symptoms that affect your daily life.

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Its primary role is to produce fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. As men get older, the prostate can grow larger, which may press against the tube that carries urine out of the body, making it harder to urinate.

“Whilst its not generally considered life threatening, BPH can significantly impact your quality of life. In fact, it’s one of the fastest growing diseases causing years lived with disability and in the last 20 years the prevalence has increased dramatically.”

Dr Thayne Larson

Take the Quiz

Take the BPH Symptom Assessment

The American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Score is a widely used questionnaire designed to help assess the severity of urinary symptoms related to BPH. It provides a simple and standardised way for patients and healthcare providers to measure how BPH is impacting daily life.

The questionnaire includes seven questions about common urinary symptoms. Each question is scored on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 5 (almost always). The total score helps categorise symptom severity as mild, moderate, or severe, and will help your doctor find the best treatment for you. In addition, the AUA Symptom Score includes a question about how bothered you feel by your symptoms, allowing for a more personalised approach to care.

Current Treatment Options

There are may options available for treating your BPH and it’s important to work with your health practitioner to find the right one for you. If left untreated BPH can lead to complications that may significantly impact your health and quality of life (careful as ‘watch and wait’ is an accepted option). As the Prostate continues to enlarge, it can place increasing pressure on the bladder and urethra potentially causing urinary retention, bladder stones, bladder or kidney damage and urinary tract infections.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Modifications

The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends lifestyle changes, such as fluid management and reducing intake of bladder irritants, as initial strategies for managing mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH.

Medications

Medications

Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin) relax prostate muscles to improve urine flow, while 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride) shrink the prostate over time. These are commonly used for moderate symptoms and can be combined for greater effectiveness. However, they may have side effects and require long-term use.

Medications

Implants (Temporary or Permanent)

Implants are often used to physically separate prostate tissue to reduce obstruction without cutting or heating. These are a minimally invasive option for men seeking symptom relief with a lower risk of sexual side effects compared to heat-based or surgical treatments.

Heat Therapy

Heat Therapy

Techniques like Rezūm (water vapor therapy) and TUMT (microwave therapy) use controlled heat to shrink prostate tissue. These procedures are often performed in-office and provide a balance between effectiveness and minimal invasiveness, typically for men with moderate symptoms.

Surgical

Surgical Reduction

Procedures such as TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) and HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation) remove excess prostate tissue to restore urine flow. These are the gold standard for men with severe symptoms or significant obstruction but come with longer recovery times and higher risks compared to less invasive treatments.

bladder

Complete Prostate Removal

In extreme cases, particularly when there are complications like recurrent urinary retention or bladder damage, a simple prostatectomy may be required. This is typically reserved for very large prostates and carries the highest risk but provides the most definitive relief.

Current Treatment Options

There are may options available for treating your BPH and it’s important to work with your health practitioner to find the right one for you. If left untreated BPH can lead to complications that may significantly impact your health and quality of life (careful as ‘watch and wait’ is an accepted option). As the Prostate continues to enlarge, it can place increasing pressure on the bladder and urethra potentially causing urinary retention, bladder stones, bladder or kidney damage and urinary tract infections.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Modifications

The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends lifestyle changes, such as fluid management and reducing intake of bladder irritants, as initial strategies for managing mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH.

Medications

Medications

Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin) relax prostate muscles to improve urine flow, while 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride) shrink the prostate over time. These are commonly used for moderate symptoms and can be combined for greater effectiveness. However, they may have side effects and require long-term use.

Medications

Implants (Temporary or Permanent)

Implants are often used to physically separate prostate tissue to reduce obstruction without cutting or heating. These are a minimally invasive option for men seeking symptom relief with a lower risk of sexual side effects compared to heat-based or surgical treatments.

Heat Therapy

Heat Therapy

Techniques like Rezūm (water vapor therapy) and TUMT (microwave therapy) use controlled heat to shrink prostate tissue. These procedures are often performed in-office and provide a balance between effectiveness and minimal invasiveness, typically for men with moderate symptoms.

Surgical

Surgical Reduction

Procedures such as TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) and HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation) remove excess prostate tissue to restore urine flow. These are the gold standard for men with severe symptoms or significant obstruction but come with longer recovery times and higher risks compared to less invasive treatments.

bladder

Complete Prostate Removal

In extreme cases, particularly when there are complications like recurrent urinary retention or bladder damage, a simple prostatectomy may be required. This is typically reserved for very large prostates and carries the highest risk but provides the most definitive relief.