Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition where the prostate gland becomes enlarged. BPH can block the flow of urine from the bladder, causing infections of the urinary tract and discomfort during urination.
Signs and symptoms
When the prostate is enlarged, it can bother or block the bladder. Needing to pass urine often is a common symptom of BPH. This might be every one to two hours, mainly at night.
Other symptoms include:
- Incomplete emptying: the feeling your bladder is full, even after passing urine.
- Frequency: the need to pass urine often, about every one to two hours.
- Intermittency: the need to stop and start several times when passing urine.
- Urgency: feeling the urgent need to pass urine as if you can’t wait.
- Weak stream: a weak urine flow.
- Straining: trouble starting to pass urine or the need to push or strain to pass urine.
- Nocturia: the need to wake up at night more than two times to pass urine.
If BPH becomes severe, you might not be able to pass urine at all. This is an emergency that must be treated right away.
How common is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is common.
By age 60, about 50 percent of people with a prostate will have some signs of BPH. By 85 years old, about 90 percent will have signs of the condition.
About half of all people with BPH will develop symptoms requiring treatment.
Treatment options
Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare is the first in El Paso, Texas, to offer aquablation, a minimally invasive BPH therapy using a robotic approach, via heat-free waterjet resection of the prostate. With this robotic and minimally invasive technology, our urology experts use a no-incision, no-heat procedure to target and remove the obstructing tissue of the enlarged prostate. This innovative therapy provides long-term relief of BPH symptoms with a low risk of side effects or complications.
We know choosing a treatment option can be overwhelming, as it often forces men to compromise in some way. This could mean:
- Not responding well to medication
- Choosing a treatment providing only limited relief
- A potentially long recovery time
- Causing issues with sexual function
This new minimally invasive, long-lasting therapy is a one-of-a-kind procedure aiming to minimize this compromise.
Talk to your doctor or urologist to determine if you are a candidate or determine what is the best treatment option for you and your healthcare needs.
To find a physician or a urologist, call (915) 595-9200 or use our Find a Doctor directory.