Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

The prostate is the most common cause of health problems that men face over the course of their lives. There are many treatments now available – the majority not involving surgery. So men should seek help and have a prostate check!

Condition - Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Anatomy

The prostate is a small, almond-shaped gland that sits at the base of the bladder. Its main function is to produce the majority of fluid that a man ejaculates, but it is not essential for life. It enlarges throughout a man’s life, and can commonly cause problems with a man’s “waterworks”. As can be seen from the diagram the urethra passes through the middle of the prostate, and as it grows it compresses this tubular structure. This compression in turns leads to the difficulty men often experience in passing urine as they get older.

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms caused by problems with the prostate are often known collectively as “lower urinary tract symptoms” or LUTS.

Symptoms and signs of prostate problems include:

LUTS are rarely caused by cancer, though when you are investigated the Urologist will often seek to exclude this possibility (more later). The most common prostate problem that causes these symptoms is BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia).

BPH occurs in all men – prostates enlarge throughout adult life. The size of the prostate does not correlate well with the occurrence of symptoms. Many men with large prostate have few symptoms, whilst conversely some men with small prostates may experience quite severe LUTS.

The prostate can block the bladder (BOO = Bladder Outlet Obstruction) as it enlarges. Treating the prostate for enlargement does not result in incontinence, as the prostate sits above the urinary sphincter and is separate from that structure.

Diagnosis

You will find that some or all of the following may be required to make an accurate diagnosis of LUTS caused by your prostate:

The DRE should not cause you any anxiety. It is not painful (though perhaps a little embarrassing) and is performed with you laying on your left side or standing whilst bending over. This examination allows the doctor to obtain an indication of the size of your prostate as well as the presence of any lumps or nodules, etc.

• Urine tests: to look for infection, blood, sugar, etc.
• Blood tests: general blood count and kidney function tests.
• PSA – Prostate Specific Antigen: this is a blood test that is designed to assist in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is not always required but you should feel free to discuss this test with your doctor.

Other Investigations

You may be required to have one or all of the following tests as well:

• Ultrasound (US) – to image the kidneys & bladder
• Post-void Residual (PVR) – usually performed at the same time as the US
• Cystoscopy – a telescopic inspection of the bladder
• Urodynamic Study – a computer-based test of your bladder function

Risks

The main risk men face when suffering from LUTS due to prostatic enlargement is acute urinary retention. This is the medical term for when a person cannot urinate – they usually suffer severe pain and need to go to hospital to have a catheter inserted in the bladder.

The other risks faced are urinary tract infections and more rarely kidney failure and bladder stones.

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Treatment – Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

There are many treatment options for BPH that do not involve surgery. Once “dangerous” conditions such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney disease, bladder stones etc have been excluded, the need for any treatment depends on how bothered you are by your LUTS.

You will have noticed the so-called bother score you provided if you completed an IPSS -International Prostate Symptom Score – a simple questionnaire about your symptoms. Some of the treatment options are listed below.

What you can do for yourself – lifestyle changes

You may decide you do not wish any specific medical treatment at this point in time. Some of the following tips may help make some of your symptoms more bearable.

• Drink a little less fluid in the evening
• some drinks such as tea, coffee and alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms
• some medications (such as diuretics) make you pass more urine – a consultation with your local doctor may enable these drugs to be taken in the morning
• “urethral milking” – after passing urine run your finger from behind the scrotum forward to push out those last few drops of urine that often stain the underwear
• “herbal” remedies that can be bought over the counter can often improve symptoms e.g. Saw palmetto & Trinovan
• sometimes pelvic floor exercises help

You should have an annual prostate check as back-up to ensure you are not developing any hidden problems.

Medications

• Alpha Blockers

These drugs block the nerves to the muscles of the prostate. This relaxes the prostate and allows easier passing of the urine. Symptoms improve 2-4 weeks after commencing the drugs.

Prazosin (Minipress or Pressin) is relatively nonspecific and in larger doses is used as a blood pressure tablet. Its big advantage is that it a PBS listed drug.

Tamsulosin (Flomax) a prostate-specific alpha-blocker that works more rapidly and often with more effect, but at this time is only on the Repatriation PBS scheme – therefore for most people it costs about $50 per script.

• 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors

These drugs – the one available in Australia is Finasteride = Proscar – reduce some of the hormonal activities of testosterone in the prostate causing it to shrink. It is not commonly used in Australia as it is very expensive and less than 30% of men who try it find it provides them any relief of their symptoms.

Surgical Options

When your symptoms are severe, you do not respond to medication, or the prostate enlargement is putting you at risk, then surgical options may need to be explored. Your Urologist will explain these in detail.

Options range from the minimally-invasive to open surgery (though this is highly unlikely to be required today) and include:

• TURP – Laser & Bi-polar
• Urolift

TURP

A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) involves a traditional endoscopic (no cuts) removal of the central part of the prostae. This is the basic operation that all the laser forms of surgery attempt to emulate e.g. Holmium,

Laser TURP – Laser prostate surgery a fiber optic cable pushed through the urethra is used to transmit lasers to vaporise the benign prostate tissue.

Bipolar TURP – Is a newer technique that uses bipolar current to remove prostate tissue.

UROLIFT

The UROLIFT is a revolutionary approach to treating BPH that lifts and holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. It is the only BPH procedure that does not require cutting, heating or removal of the prostate tissue.