Men’s health issues have not always been the most widely discussed medical topic. That is not because men’s health issues are scant. In fact, about half of all men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men over the age of 80 suffer from an enlarged prostate. These facts alone prove it’s time to put the discussion of men’s health at the forefront.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) , or an enlarged prostate, is an uncomfortable, age-associated disorder, for which, luckily, new treatment options are emerging to combat the symptoms.
Read on to learn more about BPH symptoms of an enlarged prostate and the minimally invasive treatment that is revolutionizing BPH symptom relief.
How does an enlarged prostate affect day-to-day life?
An enlarged prostate most often occurs during a prostate’s second growth phase which typically begins around the age of 25. According to the Urology Care Foundation , “as the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker. One day, the bladder may weaken and may not be able to empty fully, leaving some urine in the bladder. Narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention – not able to empty the bladder fully – cause many of the problems of BPH.” Because of this, BPH is commonly associated with trouble urinating, the constant feeling of needing to urinate, weak urine flow and stream, starting and stopping urinating several times. Unfortunately, while an enlarged prostate is not life-threatening, the symptoms of BPH, when untreated, will likely worsen over time and could lead to more serious issues such as infection and bladder damage. Luckily, however, there is a new non-invasive BPH symptom treatment available, the UroLift System .
What is the UroLift System?
Historically, those struggling from the side effects of BPH have most commonly turned to prescription medications or invasive surgical procedures for symptom relief. While surgical options such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) have been the most prevalent treatment of BPH symptoms to-date, many men would prefer to avoid major surgery if possible. Along with that, many of the medications frequently used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate come with a host of unwanted side effects. According to the research paper “Modern best practice in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the elderly,” “ Newer, novel minimally invasive techniques … are gaining favor as alternative office-based procedural techniques that do not require general anesthesia and may better preserve ejaculatory function.”
Enter the UroLift System.
According to the UroLift website, the system is an approach “to treating BPH that lifts and holds the enlarged prostate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra.” A urologist will perform this treatment that will allow them to avoid heating, cutting, or removing prostate tissue. A urologist will perform UroLift with local, regional or general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure and the patient can return home the same day! Most patients will be able to go home without a catheter, although a catheter overnight may be indicated. There is less downtime than with the traditional Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Less downtime means quicker recovery for you to get back to being you!
Is the UroLift System an effective treatment for the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
According to research, the UroLift System is an effective treatment plan for BPH symptoms. Urology Times ’ recent article “PROs favor prostatic urethral lift over water vapor ablation for BPH symptoms” detailed patient-reported outcomes of a study comparing the effects of UroLift and Rezum tissue ablation, which resulted in medical experts singing the praises of the UroLift System.
“The UroLift System is a game-changer for patients suffering from BPH symptoms and is supported by a robust portfolio of clinical evidence as well as a growing body of real-world evidence,” study coauthor William Schiff, MD, Urology Associates of Central California in Fresno, California, stated in a press release “Providers should be encouraged by these findings showing the UroLift System offers a positive treatment experience and rapid recovery, allowing men to return to their daily activities with minimal downtime.”
The Canadian Journal of Urology has also extensively studied the effectiveness of the UroLift system for BPH symptoms. According to the Journal, compared to BPH medications, UroLift has significantly improved the quality of life of patients. Also, “the UroLift System is the only BPH procedure shown not to cause new and lasting erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction.”
About Dr. Lauren Underwood, ChristiMD Medical Group
Dr. Lauren Underwood of ChristiMD Medical Group treats patients suffering from an enlarged prostate. She practices general urology and has a special interest in improving prostate health and providing effective treatment for those with BPH symptoms. When working with Dr. Underwood to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, she will review the various treatment options available at the practice and determine which is best for each specific case. ChristiMD Medical Group now offers the minimally invasive option, UroLift. If interested, Dr. Underwood is happy to discuss this system with her patients and figure out if it is right for the case at-hand. Dr. Underwood is a board certified Urologist and member of the American Urological Association as well as the Texas Urological Society.