Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About an Enlarged Prostate

Many people are unaware of a common health condition for men as they grow older: benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate or BPH. There is little discussion about BPH despite the fact that it will affect most men as they age. Here are a few things you should know about BPH and BPH treatments.

1. It’s not cancerous, benign is baked right into the name…so what is BPH?  
   BPH is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged and presses against the urethra obstructing the flow of urine. BPH does not result in cancer but left untreated, it can lead to more serious urinary, bladder and kidney problems.  
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3. You’re Not Alone 
   BPH is a surprisingly common health condition – it is considered one of the most common diseases for mature men and the most common cause of urinary issues.¹  The occurrence of BPH increases with age. In fact, 50% of men by age 60, 70% of men over 60 years old and 90% of men by age 85 will experience BPH.^2,3 
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5. Why did I get it? 
   Researchers aren’t completely sure what causes BPH and why some men get it and others don’t. However, for just about all men, BPH is a natural part of getting older. The prostate gland goes through two growth spurts in a lifetime. First, the prostate doubles in size in your teens, with a second growth period at the age of 25 that continues for the rest of your life.⁴ Other risk factors can include family history of BPH, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.²
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7. How do you know if you have BPH?  
   BPH can cause frustrating symptoms, including frequent urination; weak, interrupted urine stream; a hard time starting and stopping urination; feeling a sudden urge to urinate; inability to urinate when needed; and lack of control over urination; among other things.⁵ 
   
   BPH can affect your day-to-day life and as a result of these symptoms, leave you feeling embarrassed, tired and uncomfortable. Sound familiar? Take the quiz here to understand the severity of your BPH symptoms and use it as a discussion guide with your doctor.  
   
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9. Silver Lining – BPH Treatments That Can Help  
   The good news is that there are several treatments for BPH. These can include watchful waiting, behavior and lifestyle modifications such as eating healthy, losing extra body weight, or reducing liquids before bed.⁵ Other enlarged prostate treatments include medications, laser therapy, minimally invasive procedures such as Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy and invasive surgery. 
   
   Medications may not work for everyone, and may have undesirable side effects such as dizziness, erectile dysfunction and lower sex drive.⁶ Minimally invasive or surgical therapy might be recommended if, for example, symptoms are not resolved with medication or you have other health issues. Many patients are moving towards new treatments for BPH, such as minimally invasive procedures that can be done in the physician’s office to avoid time in the hospital or potential impact to sexual function.
   
   Rezūm is the only in-office therapy that uses water vapor to shrink your prostate and offer lasting relief from your BPH symptoms. It uses natural water vapor to reduce the size of the prostate for a more natural treatment for enlarged prostate. It provides lasting relief from BPH symptoms without invasive surgery and the side effects of prescription drugs.^7,8