Prostatic enlargement is a common condition men have with aging. More than 50% of men above 60 years of age have this condition.
Prostate enlargement has many consequences on the urinary tract affecting the quality of life. So, what’s prostatic enlargement? its causes, and what is the latest treatment for enlarged prostate?
Prostatic enlargement means that the prostate becomes bigger due to its overgrowth. Usually, it’s referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Normally, the prostate is located around the urethra (the tube through which urine passes from the bladder out). And it’s important for the viability of the sperms.
Enlargement is a physiological event that arises as a result of the regular proliferation of prostate glandular cells and vacuoles.
Being enlarged, the prostate compresses the urethra and affects the urine and semen outflow. So, prostatic enlargement can lead to urinary incontinence and fertility problems.
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The majority of the population suffers from these symptoms between the ages of 50-64 which is 50% and between the ages of 65-74 is 70%.
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Prostatic enlargement is considered a normal consequence of aging. About 80% of men in their nineties have an enlarged prostate.
However, the specific underlying causes for prostate enlargement or BPH are not yet identified. yet, it’s associated with various factors such as:
Testes produce sex hormones like testosterone. It’s been noticed that testosterone levels affect the prostate’s size.
In patients with removed testes, it’s been noticed that the rate of prostate overgrowth is decreased.
The incidence of developing prostate enlargement increases in people with a positive family history of the disease or testicular diseases.
Recent studies have shown that the increase in the body’s susceptibility and readiness to the genetic pathological mutations in these cells that lead first to benign enlargement and then cancer due to the high rate of environmental and food contamination.
Symptoms of enlarged prostate vary according to the degree of the enlargement. they include:
The suffering from the enlargement is due to symptoms of narrowing of the urethra and the emptying of the bladder.
The Main causes of prostatic enlargement are advancing age, obesity, smoking, and recurrence of acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis.
This enlargement without treatment may lead over time to lower urinary symptoms with changes in bladder function, as well as may lead to recurrent acute and chronic urinary retention.
In case of this enlargement in the advanced stages, there is bladder dysfunction due to the narrowing of the urethra surrounded by this gland, leading later to pathological changes or deficiencies in the functions of the kidneys.
Diagnosis of prostatic enlargement/ BPH is done through:
The physician may ask for lab tests to estimate the condition or to help him identify the underlying cause. they include:
Urine analysis.
Urine culture.
Prostate-specific antigen test to look for prostatic cancer.
Full blood picture.
Kidney function tests.
The treatment prescribed depends on the degree of the enlargement and the severity of symptoms. Here’s how a normal treatment plan works:
This is the first step in treatment. It safely helps to control the symptoms of prostate enlargement. and it’s done as follows:
your physician will prescribe you medication if changing your style of living isn’t enough to control your symptoms. these medications include:
Catheters are used when you can’t urinate. That can happen when the prostate enlargement is too advanced and it blocks the urine outlet.
It is done by inserting a tube inside your bladder to drain out the urine. The tube enters from the external meatus of the urethra or through a hole made above your pubic bone.
It’s a safe procedure and the tube can stay in for as long as needed.
when none of the above works in controlling the symptoms, or when the symptoms aggravate, surgery may be indicated for treatment.
The surgical operations done to treat prostate enlargement include:
These are some minor procedures that don’t require staying long in the hospital after they are done. they include:
These types of surgeries are indicated when other ways fail or when your symptoms deteriorate causing kidney failure, persistent urinary incontinence, or recurrent infection. they include:
In this surgery, a device called a resectoscope is passed through the urethra to take the prostate off gradually. This procedure is the most performed surgery in treating prostate enlargement.
As medical innovation never ceases, there have been new treatment methods for prostate enlargement that provide less invasive alternatives to surgery. So, what’s the latest treatment for enlarged prostate?
It’s a modern procedure done with the help of robotic execution. it is done as follows:
So, this procedure provides accuracy and minimal postoperative complications.
This procedure’s concept depends on decreasing the blood supply to the prostate thus decreasing the prostate abnormal growth. It’s done as follows:
This procedure has shown good prognosis rates in the short time after its performance.
A man with these symptoms of BPH should contact us immediately:
Still asking what’s the latest treatment for enlarged prostate? Call us, make an appointment and you will find out.
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