Treatment FAQ

what treatment options are used in enlarged prostate

by Owen Mohr Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The options include:
  • Alpha blockers. These medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate, making urination easier. ...
  • 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medications shrink your prostate by preventing hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. ...
  • Combination drug therapy. ...
  • Tadalafil (Cialis).

Medication

What to Do

  • Consume a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds a couple of times per day.
  • As an alternate remedy, you can crush a handful of fresh seeds in 1 cup of boiling water.
  • Remove them from the heat, cover and allow them to steep until the liquid is room temperature.
  • Strain and drink this infused water a couple of times per week.

Procedures

The main treatments are:

  • lifestyle changes
  • medicine
  • catheters
  • surgery and other procedures

Nutrition

Your doctor is likely to recommend that you:

  • Drink plenty of water to flush out the bladder.
  • Eat high-fiber foods, to avoid constipation and straining during a bowel movement. ...
  • Wait to resume taking any blood-thinning medications until your doctor says it's OK.
  • Avoid strenuous activity, such as heavy lifting, for four to six weeks or until your doctor says it's OK.

More items...

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What Medicines Treat BPH?

  • 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors. These stop your body from creating one of the hormones that makes your prostate larger. ...
  • Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors. These are the same medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction. ...
  • Drug Combinations. If one medication on its own doesn’t help with symptoms, your doctor may suggest taking two. ...

What is the best natural remedy for an enlarged prostate?

What are my surgical options for an enlarged prostate?

What is the best procedure for an enlarged prostate?

What is the best medication for an enlarged prostate?

See more

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What is the latest treatment for enlarged prostate?

Physicians at UC San Diego Health are now offering prostate artery embolization (PAE) as a new treatment option for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. The minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to surgery, with no hospital stay, little operative pain and lower cost.

What is the safest procedure for enlarged prostate?

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure to treat men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Since becoming available in Europe and Brazil, the procedure has rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. since FDA approval in 2017.

Can enlarged prostate be treated without surgery?

What is PAE? PAE is a nonsurgical procedure that decreases the blood supply to the prostate, thus reducing its size and symptoms. An interventional radiologist, who uses X-rays and other imaging techniques to see inside the body and treat conditions without surgery, performs PAE.

What is the least invasive treatment for enlarged prostate?

The transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It uses radiofrequency waves to heat and destroy tissue of the enlarged prostate.

Which is better TURP or laser?

There was no difference between the two procedures in terms of hospital stay or complications. However, men in the TURP group achieved a faster urinary flow rate (they could pass higher volumes of urine more quickly). TURP was also slightly more cost-effective and faster to perform than the laser procedure.

What is the best treatment for enlarged prostate 2021?

The options include:Alpha blockers. These medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate, making urination easier. ... 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medications shrink your prostate by preventing hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. ... Combination drug therapy. ... Tadalafil (Cialis).

What is better than TURP?

In conclusion, Greenlight PVP has shown to be at least as effective as TURP and has the advantage of reducing perioperative complications and length of catheter time and hospital stay.

At what size of prostate requires surgery?

TURP developed itself to become the gold standard of surgical treatment for medium sized prostates. The EAU guidelines, based on grade A evidence, recommends TURP for prostates between 35 and 80 ml. Over that limit, open surgery seems to remain the only option for treating BPH, according to available clinical evidence.

Can an enlarged prostate go back to normal?

Treatments. Because BPH cannot be cured, the treatment focuses on reducing the symptoms. The treatment is based on how severe the symptoms are, how much they bother the patient and whether there are complications. The more irritating the symptoms are, the more aggressive treatment should be.

How painful is TURP surgery?

You shouldn't experience any severe pain, but there may be some discomfort and bladder spasms (contractions) from the catheter, which is left in place because your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) will be swollen and sore.

What is the main cause of prostate enlargement?

The cause of prostate enlargement is unknown, but it's believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older. The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older and this may cause your prostate gland to grow.

Is HoLEP better than TURP?

HoLEP was significantly superior to TURP in terms of both Qmax and IPSS at 1-year postoperative follow-up visits. Furthermore, HoLEP patients benefited from less intraoperative bleeding, a shorter catheterization time, shorter hospital stays, and lower transfusion rates.

What is the best treatment for enlarged prostate?

Saw palmetto extract, made from berries from the saw palmetto shrub, is probably the most well-known. Other alternative treatments include beta-sitosterol and Pygeum africanum herbal extract. Studies of alternative treatments for an enlarged prostate have ...

How to help enlarged prostate?

Also, cut back on coffee and alcohol, don’t drink fluids too close to bedtime, avoid medicines like decongestants and antihistamines, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Practicing Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles around your bladder.

What is a minimally invasive procedure?

Minimally invasive procedures may provide symptom relief without the risks and side effects of conventional surgery. These include transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), and water-induced thermotherapy. They use different techniques to generate heat and destroy excess prostate tissue. Your doctor can perform these minimally invasive procedures in the office using local anesthesia.

What is the best medicine for prostate cancer?

Medicines include alpha blockers, such as tamsulosin (Flomax ), and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride (Proscar ) and dutasteride (Avodart ). Alpha blockers relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder to help the flow of urine. The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors directly shrink the prostate and slow its growth by inhibiting hormones responsible for prostate growth. These drugs may be taken together or alone, but certain patients should not take these drugs. Always consult both your doctor and pharmacist regarding the risks and potential side effects of any newly prescribed treatment.

How to get rid of a swollen bladder?

Also, cut back on coffee and alcohol, don’t drink fluids too close to bedtime, avoid medicines like decongestants and antihistamines, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Practicing Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles around your bladder.

Can enlarged prostate cause bladder problems?

However, an enlarged prostate is a progressive condition. It can worsen and cause other health problems, such as urinary tract infections and bladder problems. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

Is enlarged prostate cancer?

Your Treatment Choice Is a Personal Decision. An enlarged prostate can be a nuisance but you have many treatment options. It is not cancer and urgent decisions are not required. Treatment largely depends on the severity of your symptoms, size of your prostate, your age and health, and your personal preference.

How to treat enlarged prostate?

The AUA recommends the following treatment for an enlarged prostate based on the severity of symptoms: 1 Mild symptoms that don't bother you (AUA score 0 to 7): If you are not bothered by your symptoms, and they don't affect your daily life, watchful waiting is the best option for you. You should get regular checkups to make sure that you are not developing complications. 2 Moderate to severe symptoms (AUA score of 8 or more): If you are not bothered by your symptoms, you may choose watchful waiting. However, if your symptoms do start to interfere, you may choose medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery. 3 Moderate to severe symptoms (AUA score of 8 or more) with complications: If symptoms are bothersome and you have developed complications such as inability to urinate, you may need a catheter, surgery, or other treatment.

What is a 0 to 7 prostate?

A score of 0 to 7 is considered a mild symptom score; 8 or over is considered moderate to severe. The AUA recommends the following treatment for an enlarged prostate based on the severity of symptoms: Mild symptoms that don't bother you (AUA score 0 to 7): If you are not bothered by your symptoms, and they don't affect your daily life, ...

What is the BPH index?

This is a brief questionnaire that asks about specific symptoms and how frequently they occur. Each answer is assigned a number -- and your total is ranked on a scale ranging from mild to severe.

What to talk to your doctor about BPH?

Talk to your doctor about your BPH symptom score, your concerns, and about the plan of treatment that works best for you.

When to talk to a doctor about prostate?

It's important to talk with a doctor when you begin noticing changes in urinary function. You need to find out what's going on so you can be treated for enlarged prostate if necessary. For many men, especially those who are young when the prostate starts growing, getting early treatment can head off complications later on.

Can BPH cause erection problems?

Side effects of treatments: Some BPH treatments cause erection problems, although that risk is low. Men who have normal erections before surgery will not likely have trouble afterward.

Can you treat enlarged prostate without treatment?

If your enlarged prostate symptoms are mild and not bothersome, there's likely no need for treatment. One-third of men with mild BPH find that their symptoms clear up without treatment. They may just watch and wait.

What is the best medication for prostate cancer?

This class of medications works by relaxing the bladder neck muscles and the muscle fibers in the prostate. The muscle relaxation makes it easier to urinate. You can expect an increase in urine flow and a less frequent need to urinate within a day or two if you take an alpha blocker for BPH. Alpha blockers include: 1 alfuzosin (Uroxatral) 2 doxazosin (Cardura) 3 silodosin (Rapaflo) 4 tamsulosin (Flomax) 5 terazosin (Hytrin)

What percentage of men in their 50s have an enlarged prostate?

You’re not alone — the Urology Care Foundation estimates that 50 percent of men in their 50s have an enlarged prostate. The prostate is the gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm. It grows larger with age.

How does laser surgery work for BPH?

Laser surgery for BPH involves inserting a scope through the penis tip into the urethra. A laser passed through the scope removes prostate tissue by ablation (melting) or enucleation (cutting). The laser melts excess prostate tissue in photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).

How does a prostatectomy work?

In open simple prostatectomy, the surgeon makes an incision below the navel or several small incisions in the abdomen via laparoscopy. Unlike prostatectomy for prostate cancer when the entire prostate gland is removed, in open simple prostatectomy the surgeon removes only the portion of the prostate blocking urine flow.

How does hot water work on prostate?

Hot water is delivered through a catheter to a treatment balloon that sits in the center of the prostate in water-induced thermotherapy. This computer-controlled procedure heats a defined area of the prostate while neighboring tissues are protected. The heat destroys the problematic tissue.

What is the best combination for alpha blockers?

Common combinations that doctors prescribe are finasteride and doxazosin or dutasteride and tamsulosin ( Jalyn).

What is the name of the condition that blocks the urethra from urinating out of the pen?

An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can block the urethra from transporting urine from the bladder and out of the penis. Keep reading to learn about traditional treatments for BPH.

Why does my prostate grow bigger?

As men age, the prostate gland tends to grow larger. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called prostate gland enlargement, can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder, or bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.

Where is the prostate gland located?

For men over 50, prostate problems are common. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder and surrounds the top portion of the urethra , which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder. The prostate's primary function is to produce the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Drugs can often help, but sometimes surgery is needed

As men age, they often experience a new kind of growth spurt, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate gland.

Disclaimer

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

What is the best treatment for an enlarged prostate?

The first higher-level treatment is to begin taking prescription drugs for an enlarged prostate. One class of medication is an alpha blocker. These medications, such as Flomax, Rapaflo, and Cardura, work by relaxing the affected muscles around the prostate to encourage urine flow. Another type of medication is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.

What is the best treatment for BPH?

For moderate to severe BPH, you may need a medical procedure to relieve your symptoms. There are a variety of procedures, including laser therapy, microwave heat, or prostate tissue compression. Partial prostate removal and full removal are more invasive but may be necessary for extremely large prostate glands.

How do you know if you have a prostate?

Common symptoms of an enlarged prostate include frequent and urgent urination, troubles with urine stream, incontinence and dribbling, pain after urination, and urine remaining in the bladder. About 50 percent of men in their 50s and 60s show symptoms ...

Why is BPH important?

The prostate is a significant organ in the male reproductive system because it helps produce fluid for semen. Beginning around age 25, the prostate begins a natural growth period that continues throughout a man's life.

How to stop dribbling in urine?

You can also try Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles and reduce urine dribbling. To do these exercises, squeeze the muscles that affect urine flow and then release, repeating several times to train the muscles.

Does exercise help with prostate health?

Exercise can improve with your overall fitness, as well as benefit your prostate health. Studies have shown a connection between increased physical activity and reduced risk of BPH, with exercise of any type having some degree of benefit.

Is prostate cancer non-cancerous?

This condition, often called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, is non-cancerous but can sometimes have similar symptoms to prostate cancer.

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Prognosis

Treatment

Mechanism of action

Results

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Pawan Katti
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment depends on the size of the prostate, age and overall health of the patient.
Medication

Alpha blockers: Relax the bladder neck muscles and prostate muscles for easier urination.

Alfuzosin . Doxazosin . Tamsulosin


5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Prevent hormonal changes and shrink the prostate.

Finasteride . Dutasteride

Procedures

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): Whole except the outer part of the prostate is removed.

Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP): One or two cuts are made in the prostate.

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT): Inner portion of the prostate is destroyed by inserting an electrode.

Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA): Excess prostate tissue blocking urine flow is destroyed by radio waves.

Laser therapy: Laser beams are used to destroy the overgrown prostate.

Prostate lift: Sides of prostate are compressed using special tags.

Embolization: Size of prostate is decreased by blocking the blood supply.

Open or robot-assisted prostatectomy: Prostate is removed by making an incision on lower abdomen.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Food rich in vitamin C like broccoli, sprouts, cauliflower, and tomatoes
  • Food rich in zinc: oyster, crab, baked beans and lamb

Foods to avoid:

  • Processed food and junk food
  • Food with caffeine like coffee, tea, and fizzy drinks
  • Dairy products like milk and yogurt
  • Foods which are spicy like sauce and pickle

Specialist to consult

Urologist
Specializes in the urinary tract disease.
Andrologist
Specializes in dealing with problems related to the male reproductive system and urological problems that are unique to men.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Nomenclature

Risks

  • Treatment options include medications and surgery. You and your doctor will consider several factors when you evaluate these choices. These factors include: This type of medication reduces the size of the prostate gland by blocking hormones that spur the growth of your prostate gland. Dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar) are two types of...
See more on healthline.com

Mechanism

  • This class of medications works by relaxing the bladder neck muscles and the muscle fibers in the prostate. The muscle relaxation makes it easier to urinate. You can expect an increase in urine flow and a less frequent need to urinate within a day or two if you take an alpha blocker for BPH. Alpha blockers include:
See more on healthline.com

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