Enlarged Prostate BPH / Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

When you have an enlarged prostate gland, the condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and it is common for men over 50 years old. Sometimes, an enlarged prostate can cause a narrowing of the urethra, and obstruct or slow down the flow of urine, with 40% of sufferers having the urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

IPSA Medical prostate consultation

At IPSA Medical Clinic, immediate consultations are available. With both privacy and confidentiality, paramount in IPSA Medical’s holistic approach towards your consultation, your treatment and the management of your BPH is in safe hands. With IPSA Medical’s people-centred approach, the IPSA Medical clinician will discuss your symptoms entirely and help to assess any risk factors.

At your prostate consultation, the best treatment options to treat and manage Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) will be thoroughly explained before any treatment is recommended.

The physician will immediately prescribe a biopsy if he or she suspects the possibility of prostate cancer. IPSA Medical referrals are local, immediate, and with appointment times that will fit in with your schedule.

What are the causes of an enlarged prostate gland?

Age, the level of hormones in the body and some other family-related and health-related factors are likely to cause the enlargement of prostate gland. The risk of developing an enlarged prostate gland increases with age since a high percentage of those over 50 suffer from the condition. As we age, our hormone balance alters and these hormonal changes can enable the gland to grow.

The other factors involved are linked with health-related issues, with those who are obese or diabetic being more at risk of Benign prostatic hyperplasia. If anyone in the family is diagnosed with BPH increases your chances of developing the condition.

How is an enlarged prostate diagnosed at the IPSA Medical clinic?

Your IPSA Medical specialist might undertake both an examination and blood test to diagnose an enlarged prostate gland.

If my prostate gland is enlarged, do I have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer?

An enlarged prostate gland is not associated with prostate cancer because an enlarged prostate gland and prostate cancer originate in different areas of the prostate gland. However, in rare cases, you can have prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate gland (BPH) at the same time.

The most common symptoms of an enlarged prostate/BPH include:

What are the treatment options at my IPSA Medical clinic for an enlarged prostate gland?

The three main treatments that exist for BPH are lifestyle changes, medicines and surgery.

Men’s health and changes to your lifestyle

If you can make some basic lifestyle changes (e.g. drinking less caffeine, consuming less alcohol, and reducing your intake of fizzy drinks and artificial sweeteners), then this can help in improving any of the symptoms that you may be experiencing from Benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Medicines

If having made these necessary lifestyle changes, there is no improvement; then there are medications that can be taken to help with your BPH symptoms.

These medications reduce the BPH symptoms as they relax both the muscles around the neck of your bladder and the prostate muscles (making it easier to pass urine). They also reduce the size of the gland gradually, which reduces pressure on the urethra, making it easier to urinate.

Surgery

If both medicines and lifestyle changes are ineffective in controlling your BPH symptoms, or if you have more severe BPH symptoms, your IPSA Medical physician might then suggest surgery to you as the best possible option. Several different kinds of prostate surgery are available, which your IPSA Medical specialist will discuss with you during your IPSA Medical prostate consultation.