Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or B-P-H, can happen when a small gland called the prostate causes bladder problems in men. B-P-H is very common in older men. By age 60, the majority of men have at least some symptoms of B-P-H. Causes. The prostate is a small gland that's part of the male reproductive system. It sits just below your bladder, which stores urine, and in front of the rectum. During ejaculation, the prostate squeezes fluid into your urethra, the tube that sends urine from the bladder out of the body. The fluid protects the sperm, and is part of the liquid that makes up semen. In young men, the prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. But it continues to grow throughout your adult life. As the prostate gland grows, it starts to press on the urethra, like a clamp on a garden hose. It also presses on the bladder and irritates it. Over time, the wall of the bladder weakens, and the bladder is unable to completely empty.
Benign Prostatic HyperplasiaBenign prostatic hyperplasia, or B-P-H, can happen when a small gland called the prostate causes bladder problems in men. B-P-H is very common in older men. By age 60, the majority of men have at least some symptoms of B-P-H. Causes. The prostate is a small gland that's part of the male reproductive system. It sits just below your bladder, which stores urine, and in front of the rectum. During ejaculation, the prostate squeezes fluid into your urethra, the tube that sends urine from the bladder out of the body. The fluid protects the sperm, and is part of the liquid that makes up semen. In young men, the prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. But it continues to grow throughout your adult life. As the prostate gland grows, it starts to press on the urethra, like a clamp on a garden hose. It also presses on the bladder and irritates it. Over time, the wall of the bladder weakens, and the bladder is unable to completely empty.SymptomsBenign prostatic hyperplasia can cause symptoms such as:Urine stream stops and startsA sudden urge to urinateUrine leakage or dribbling A sudden inability to urinate at allMore frequent urination, especially at night Most of the time, these symptoms are caused by B-P-H. But more serious conditions, such as prostate cancer, can also cause these symptoms, so it's important to see your healthcare provider.If B-P-H becomes more severe, it can cause problems such as:Urinary tract infections Kidney damageBladder stones An inability to control urinationAn inability to urinateBlood in the urineDiagnosisIf you have symptoms of B-P-H, your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and give you a physical exam, including a digital rectal exam. During this exam, your healthcare provider will insert a gloved finger into your rectum. This allows him or her to feel the size of the nearby part of your prostate. Your healthcare provider may recommend certain tests, like a urine flow study, to measure how quickly your urine flows. You might also need a prostate-specific antigen, or P-S-A, blood test. This test can help rule out prostate cancer. You may also have a cystoscopy. During this test, a thin, flexible tube is put into the urethra through the tip of your penis. This test lets your healthcare provider see inside your urethra and bladder.TreatmentYou might not need any treatment if your symptoms are mild. Your healthcare provider may keep watch on your symptoms instead. You may be instructed to make some lifestyle changes like not drinking fluids at bedtime and reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake. You may be taught “double voiding.” That’s when you urinate more than once each time you go to the bathroom to completely empty your bladder. You may need treatment if your symptoms are giving you a lot of trouble. The most common kind of treatment is medicine. Some medicines can help slow prostate growth. Other medicines can help relax your bladder and prostate to let urine flow more easily. Surgery to remove part of the prostate is another option for many men. This often relieves the incomplete bladder emptying caused by B-P-H. The most common type of surgery doesn't need an external cut. Instead, a healthcare provider removes part of the prostate through your urethra. There are several types of surgical techniques. The type of surgery will depend on your situation. Talk with your healthcare provider about which procedure is best for you.Things to rememberBenign prostatic hyperplasia often causes urination problems in older men. Your healthcare provider might need to rule out more dangerous causes of your symptoms. You may need treatment with medicine or surgery if lifestyle changes do not help.What we have learnedWhen B-P-H is severe, it may cause serious problems like kidney damage. True or false? The answer is "true". If you can't urinate, the urine can back up into the kidneys and cause serious problems.Surgery is the only treatment option for B-P-H. True or false? The answer is "false". Lifestyle changes, medicines, and other procedures can also be used to treat B-P-H.
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