Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Treatment is aimed at reducing the urinary symptoms and improving urine flow. Follow the steps to know how to treat this condition

Step 1

Do not treat if BPH is mild. Just "wait and watch". In some cases, BPH symptoms improve without treatment.

Step 2

Use medications in men with moderate to severe symptoms. There are two classes of medications available: alpha-adrenergic antagonis (terazocin) and alpha-reductase inhibitors(finasteride).

Alpha-adrenergic antagonists relax the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck, allowing urine to flow more easily.

The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone involved in prostate enlargement.

Step 3

Avoid medications that can cause urinary retention. These include antihistamines (Benadryl), decongestants (Sudafed).

Step 4

Avoid fluids prior to bedtime or before going out.

Step 5

Decrease use of caffeine, tea and alcohol.

Step 6

Double void, means, empty your bladder, wait a few moments, and void again. Avoid straining.

Step 7

Treat surgically if drug therapy fails. Surgery is aimed at reducing the amount of prostate tissue around the urethra.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most common surgical procedure for treating BPH.

Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) uses a low-level radiofrequency energy is to burn away specific areas of the enlarged prostate.

Other procedures include microwave thermotherapy, transurethral incision of the prostate (TIP), surgical removal of the prostate and laser treatment.

Warnings the medications can be associated with unwanted effects. The most important side effects of alpha-adrenergic antagonists are low blood pressure after sitting or standing up and dizziness. A small percentage of men who take alpha-reductase inhibitors can have decreased sex drive or ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction