The prostate is a gland that rests below the bladder (where urine is stored before being eliminated from the body) of a man and in front of the rectum (where the stools are stored before being excreted from the body). It is walnut-sized and surrounds a part of the urethra (from where urine and sperm are ejected out of a man’s body).
BPH is a non-cancerous condition that may cause difficulty in emptying the bladder properly due to a narrowed urethra. Although BPH by itself may not need any treatment, if it leads to symptoms, treatment may be needed.
Causes:
The following could lead to BPH:
Risk factors:
The following factors may increase the risk of developing BPH:
The commonly associated symptoms with BPH are:
The treatment of BPH may vary depending on the size of the prostate gland, the age of the patient, the severity of the symptoms present, and the overall health of the patient. In some cases of BPH, only watchful monitoring is needed when the symptoms are mild.
Other cases of an enlarged prostate may be treated in the following different ways:
1. Medications: The following different types of medications may be prescribed to treat mild to moderate cases of prostate enlargement:
Alpha blockers: They relax the muscles of the bladder neck and the muscle fibers in the prostate, making urination easier.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors: They shrink the prostate by prevention of hormonal changes that may cause prostate growth.
Combination drug therapy: An alpha-blocker and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor may sometimes be given together if they are not effective alone.
Tadalafil: This type of medicine is usually given to treat erectile dysfunction, but can also help in treating prostate enlargement.
2. Minimally-invasive surgeries: This type of treatment is recommended if the patient has moderate to severe symptoms, medicines have failed to relieve the symptoms if the patient prefers a definitive treatment, or the patient has bladder stones, urinary tract obstruction, blood in urine, or other kidney problems.
The different types of minimally-invasive surgeries include:
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP):
A tube or scope with a light on one end is inserted into the patient’s urethra.
The surgeon will then remove all but the outer portion of the prostate.
TURP helps in relieving the symptoms quickly and most men will have a stronger flow of urine soon after the procedure.
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP):
A lighted scope will be inserted into the patient’s urethra.
The surgeon will make one or two small incisions or cuts in the prostate gland, allowing the urine to easily pass through the urethra.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT):
The doctor will insert a special electrode through the urethra into the prostate area.
The microwave energy from the electrode will destroy the inner portion of the enlarged prostate gland, causing its shrinkage and allowing easy urine flow.
Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA):
The procedure involves passing a scope into the urethra, allowing the doctor to place needles into the prostate gland.
Radio waves are passed through the needles, heating and destroying the excess prostate tissue that blocks the urine flow.
Laser therapy:
A high-energy laser will help in destroying or removing the overgrown prostate tissue.
Laser therapy helps in relieving the symptoms of an enlarged prostate immediately and has a lower risk of side effects.
Laser therapy can be performed in the following ways:
Prostatic urethral lift (PUL):
The procedure involves the use of special tags to compress the sides of the prostate gland to increase the urine flow.
Embolization:
This procedure involves selectively blocking the blood supply to or from the prostate gland.
Open or robot-assisted prostatectomy:
The procedure involves the removal of the enlarged tissue by making an incision in the lower abdomen.
When this procedure is performed using robotic arms controlled by the surgeon, the procedure is known as a robotic-assisted procedure.
The procedure is usually performed in cases of a large prostate gland, damage to the bladder, or the presence of other complications.
The complications of an enlarged prostate gland are:
The side effects of BPH treatment will vary depending on the type of procedure performed and may include the following:
The following home remedies can help in controlling the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland:
The cost of an enlarged prostate or BPH treatment in Mumbai is between INR 70,000 to INR 1,80,000.
The cost of an enlarged prostate or BPH treatment in Delhi is between INR 65,000 to INR 1,70,000.
The cost of an enlarged prostate or BPH treatment in Bangalore is between INR 65,000 to INR 1,70,000.
The cost of an enlarged prostate or BPH treatment in Chennai is between INR 60,000 to INR 1,65,000.
MBBS, MS- Surgery, MCh- Urology - Urologist
MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - Urology - Urologist
MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - Urology - Urologist
MBBS, DNB - General Surgery, MNAMS - General Surgery, DNB - Urology/Genito - Urinary Surgery - Urologist