Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, is common in people with prostates as they age. About half of all men between ages 51 and 60 have BPH. Up to 90 percent of men over age 80 have it.
BPH is not cancerous, and it doesn’t lead to cancer. But since BPH and cancer can happen at the same time, you should talk to your doctor if you have symptoms. You may not need any treatment for BPH. But if it begins to cause symptoms, treatment may help.
Symptoms of BPH may include:
- Feeling your bladder is full, even after passing urine
- The need to pass urine often, about every one to two hours
- The need to stop and start several times when passing urine
- Feeling the urgent need to pass urine as if you can’t wait
- A weak urine flow
- Trouble starting to pass urine or the need to push or strain to pass urine
- The need to wake up at night more than two times to pass urine
There are many treatments for BPH. Mild cases may need no treatment at all and may only require active surveillance. This means your BPH will be closely watched but not actively treated. You may be monitored with regular visits to your urologist. Active surveillance is best for men with mild to moderate symptoms.
Other treatment options include prescription drugs or less invasive office based procedures. These minimally invasive surgical treatments (also known as MIST), are done as outpatient procedures, without a hospital stay, often in the doctor’s office. Recovery time is usually fairly quick. This type of surgery can offer relief from symptoms, including urine control problems. But, long term treatment of symptoms is not guaranteed.
In cases of BPH where other options have failed or the patient is looking for long lasting results, more invasive surgery may be recommended.
For more information, check out the below resources.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - What You Should Know Fact Sheet
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