Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia – BPH

Enlarged Prostate Treatment

At Urology Associates in Oklahoma City, our urologists diagnose and treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – or enlarged prostate – every day. This condition is extremely common in men as they age, affecting about 50 percent of men in their 50s and up to 90 percent of men older than 80. It impacts the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra and can cause changes in bladder function.

As the prostate gland enlarges, it presses against the urethra – the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis, causing it to become narrower. As this occurs, the bladder has to work harder to eliminate urine and may contract even when it contains only a small amount of urine.

Eventually, the bladder wall weakens and is unable to completely empty the urine, which leads to a weak urine stream, urinary urgency and leakage, frequent urination, nocturia, and overactive bladder.

There are medications that can help some men with an enlarged prostate, but for many, these might not be enough to alleviate symptoms such as weak urine flow and dribbling.

Urology Associates offers minimally invasive procedures or surgery to treat moderate to severe BPH, including:

• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This is the most common surgical procedure for BPH in which portions of the prostate that are affecting your urinary flow are removed. A scope is inserted through the urethra to remove the excess tissue, so there is no cutting involved and no external incision.
• Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP). This procedure is typically used if you have a smaller prostate gland but major blockage. Instead of removing prostate tissue, the urologist makes a few small cuts to reduce the gland’s pressure on the urethra, making urination easier.
• Laser ablation of the prostate. A laser fiber is used through a scope to vaporize the obstructing prostate tissue. This results in less bleeding and is done as an outpatient procedure.
• UroLift® During this minimally invasive procedure, the doctor places small, permanent implants into the prostate to lift and hold the enlarged tissue out of the way, relieving pressure on the urethra and allowing urine to flow again normally. There is no cutting, heating, or removal of prostate tissue required which means less downtime for patients. Learn more

These are just a few of the many minimally invasive procedures used to treat BPH, depending on the severity of your condition. To learn more about these and other options, schedule an appointment with one of our Oklahoma City urologists. Call Urology Associates today at (405) 749-9655 or use our online form.