Prostate Enlargement a cause of concern in Men: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Prostate Enlargement is also called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in medical terms.
The prostate is a fibro-muscular-glandular organ present in males. It mainly secretes prostatic fluid. During ejaculation, the prostatic fluid along with the spermatozoa are released from the penis. Normally, the prostate undergoes physiological changes during puberty. Later in life, it undergoes a subsequent increase in size and continues to grow throughout a man’s life. An enlarged prostate can press upon the urethral neck causing various symptoms of the urinary system.
As a man ages, the testosterone activity decreases and the relative increase in oestrogen causes a proliferative action on the prostate, leading to BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). BPH is also associated with obesity, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and erectile dysfunction in males. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, weight reduction in obese individuals and regular exercise reduce the risk of developing BPH.
Prostate Enlargement Symptoms
The symptoms as experienced by the patient, depending upon the severity of enlargement and the degree of obstruction.
- Increased frequency/urge to urinate.
- Increased tendency for urination at night
- The initial difficulty in voiding urine
- Intermittent urine flow (not in a continuous stream)
- Urinary dribbling after voiding the bladder
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying and urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infection
- Blood in urine
Prostate Enlargement Diagnosis
The examination and investigations include:
- Digital per rectal examination
- Urine Analysis
- Complete hemogram
- 24-hour urine flow monitoring
- Post viral residual volume
- Urinary flow test
- Trans rectal ultrasonography
- Cystoscopy
Prostate Enlargement Treatment
Treatment is dependent on various factors such as the age of the patient, degree of enlargement, the functional status/interference with daily routine and presence of other medical conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes).
- The first line of treatment for mild to moderate disease is medical management. They include treatment with drugs like tamsulosin, prazosin and alfuzosin, finasteride and dutasteride, Tadalafil, etc
- Moderate to severe disease requires surgical treatment.