BPH Treatment: Your Options to Treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a common ailment for men as they age, and there have been many BPH treatment therapies developed in the past few decades. BPH is a condition of the prostate gland. Found only in the male body, the prostate gland is located beneath the bladder, and it actually encircles the tube that empties urine from your bladder. In BPH, the prostate gland becomes swollen and enlarged. Over time, BPH can cause urinary problems or worse, making BPH treatment necessary to prevent more serious complications.
It is not clear why BPH occurs, but BPH has been common in older men throughout medical history. Those who have studied BPH believe it may be caused by hormonal changes that prompt the growth of cells. BPH treatment is aimed at easing the symptoms of BPH, most of which affect a man’s ability to urinate:
- Interrupted urine stream
- Weak stream
- A feeling of urgency
- More frequent need to urinate
- Frequent nighttime urination
The type of BPH treatment a man chooses usually depends on the severity of his symptoms. Some studies indicate that BPH treatment is not necessary in all cases because up to one-third of mild BPH symptoms may ease without BPH treatment. If BPH becomes worse, there are several BPH treatment options available. Common drugs for BPH are Proscar, Hytrin, Cardura, and Flomax. Other BPH treatment options include destroying overgrown prostate tissue with microwaves, lasers, and needles. Finally, there are more invasive BPH treatments which usually involve surgery.
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