Symptoms of BPH
Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS
Introduction
BPH (Benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a very common health issue in males as they age. Benign means non-cancerous, prostatic means related to the prostate (a gland located under the urinary bladder in males), and hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells causing an organ or a tissue enlargement. Symptoms of BPH are frequent urination, strenuous passing of urine, peeing more often at night, etc.
What is BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges. The prostate gland begins to grow after 25 years of age
and continues for the rest of a man’s life. When it becomes large enough to press on the urethra, symptoms start showing. The cause of BPH is still unknown, but researchers say that the enlargement can be due to hormonal changes with age.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia symptoms
Urinary problems are the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Below is the list showing each of them in detail:
- Frequent urination – An enlarged prostate puts pressure on the urinary bladder (a hollow organ that stores urine before it passes out of the body) and urethra (a tube-like structure that carries urine from the urinary bladder to the penis), causing frequent need to pee. You might feel the need to urinate every one or two hours.
- Nocturia – It is frequent urination at night which is more than 2-3 times. The wall of the urinary bladder thickens due to BPH which causes incomplete emptying of the bladder while urinating. Retention of urine causes frequent urination at night disturbing your sleep and making you sleep-deprived.
- Difficulty in passing urine – The urethra being compressed in BPH causes difficulty in passing urine even after pushing and straining the bladder. This leaves a sensation of incomplete urination.
- Urinary tract infections (UTI) – Incomplete emptying of the bladder causes urine retention which leads to urinary tract infections
- Weak urine flow – The urethra is pressed by the enlarged prostate which leads to a weak stream of urine. During urination, the urine stream is not continuous, it starts or stops repeatedly. This can also lead to an urgent need to pee at times.
- Dribbling – Leakage of urine unknowingly is known as dribbling.
- Pain – The urethra carries urine as well as semen. Some men complain of pain while urinating as well as during or after ejaculation (release of semen from the penis) which is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The symptoms of BPH tend to get worse by time but sometimes they remain the same or improve . Nutrition is considered to improve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, therefore, you should consult your doctor and dietician to get a complete diet plan.
Less common symptoms of BPH
Below given are the less common symptoms of BPH that few men experience:
- Bladder stones: Incomplete emptying of the bladder and urine retention cause bladder stones which can even cause a change in the color and smell of the urine.
- Blood in the urine (Hematuria): The presence of blood in urine is known as hematuria. Only a few cases of BPH have reported a symptom of hematuria.
- Bladder damage: Due to prolonged urinary retention, the muscles of the bladder lose their ability to contract to force the urine out which makes it difficult for complete emptying of the bladder.
- Kidney damage: If not treated on time, BPH can completely obstruct the flow of urine leading to kidney damage.
Treatment methods
Treatment will be planned according to the cause of epididymitis.
Conservative approach
Urinate the moment you feel the urge, use the washrooms more frequently to completely empty your bladder, lower fluid intake 2 hours before bedtime, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and avoid medicines like antihistamines and decongestants that prevent the muscles of the urethra and the bladder from relaxing.
Decrease stress, maintain a healthy lifestyle by being active, perform Kegel exercises, and keep yourself warm as cold weather can worsen the symptoms. Medications prescribed by your doctor can help cure the disease as well.
Minimally Invasive Therapy
Transurethral microwave therapy – A flexible tube known as a catheter is inserted and microwaves are transmitted to destroy the prostate tissue. This technique doesn’t cure BPH but it does cure the urinary issues of urgency, frequency, and irregular flow.
Transurethral needle ablation – Needles are inserted in the prostate and high- frequency radio waves are passed through it to destroy prostate tissue. It improves the urine flow
Homium laser enucleation of the prostate – A special laser fiber is used in this technique to destroy the prostate tissue
Surgical approach
When all the above treatments fail to cure the disease, the surgical approach is the final option to go for. The different surgical procedures are as follows
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) –
An instrument is inserted into the urethra and passed to the prostate where the prostate tissue is sliced and the sliced part is transported to the bladder to be flushed out of the body through urine. This is the most commonly used prostate surgery for extremely symptomatic men.
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) –
An instrument producing a laser beam is inserted into the urethra and guided to the bladder where the muscles are cut to relax the bladder and increase the urine flow. This procedureis for men with small prostates.
Simple prostatectomy
An incision is made through the abdomen, and the
inner part of the prostate is removed while the outer part is left behind.
Laser surgery –
Laser beam is used to destroy the prostate tissue.
Who is at risk?
People of older age, having a family history of prostate problems, being overweight, being diabetic, or having any heart disease, are all at risk of
developing BPH.