How Does an Enlarged Prostate Affect Your Life?

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland just in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra and produces fluid that contains sperm during ejaculation. As men age, it's common for their prostate to become enlarged. This doesn’t mean you have cancer. An enlarged prostate doesn’t even raise your risk of having prostate cancer. It’s actually a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.

Our doctors at Gulf Coast Urology are experts in managing this condition. It’s not fatal, but it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Read on to find out the best treatment options for your enlarged prostate.

What causes an enlarged prostate?

While the exact cause of an enlarged prostate is still undetermined, age plays a major role. In fact, about 90% of men over the age of 80 suffer from an enlarged prostate. This doesn’t mean you can’t develop an enlarged prostate if you’re younger, the likelihood just isn’t as high.

What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

Men with enlarged prostates experience some common symptoms that can get worse over time. With that said, symptoms aren’t linked to the size of the enlarged prostate. You can have a larger prostate and experience no symptoms or less severe symptoms than someone with a smaller prostate.

Here are the most common symptoms:

• Frequent or urgent urination
• Trouble emptying your bladder completely
• Nocturia, or increased urination at night
• Inability or difficulty with starting urination
• Weak urine stream
• Dribbling after urination
• UTIs or urinary tract infections
• Blood in urine

There are several conditions that can mimic these symptoms. For example, kidney stones or cancer. That’s why it’s important to seek medical intervention as soon as you begin to notice anything abnormal.

How do you treat an enlarged prostate?

When you come to our office with these symptoms, we’ll run a few tests to determine the cause. If you have an enlarged prostate, we’ll come up with a treatment plan using your age, symptoms, and other physical factors.

You may need medication to shrink the prostate and ease your symptoms. If your enlarged prostate is more severe, you may need a minimally invasive outpatient procedure or even a surgical procedure that might require some recovery. We’ll discuss all your options with you in detail.

Don’t wait to seek treatment

At Gulf Coast Urology, we take your urological health very seriously. That's why we're big believers in early intervention and detection. Even though an enlarged prostate is a benign issue, the symptoms can be a pain. Don't worry, you don’t need to live with discomfort. If you’re experiencing any issues, contact us today to schedule an appointment.