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prostate gland treatment

prostate gland treatment

Can benign prostatic hyperplasia be cured?

There isn’t a cure for BPH. However, treatment options are available to help alleviate your symptoms.

How is benign prostatic hyperplasia treated?

If you have mild symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), your healthcare provider may suggest a “watchful waiting” approach, involving regular monitoring to track any changes in your condition. However, if treatment becomes necessary, options may include lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise modifications), medications like alpha-blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors to relieve symptoms or shrink the prostate, minimally invasive procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or laser therapy to remove excess tissue, and, in more severe cases, surgical options to alleviate obstruction and improve urinary flow. Consulting with a healthcare professional will help determine the most appropriate treatment based on individual symptoms and overall health.

Medications

The most commonly prescribed medications relax the muscle in your prostate, which reduces tension on your urethra. Examples include:

  • Tamsulosin (Flomax®).
  • Terazosin (Hytrin®).
  • Doxazosin (Cardura®).
  • Alfuzosin (Uroxatral®).
  • Silodosin (Rapaflo®).

Some medications decrease the production of the hormone DHT, which can slow the growth of your prostate gland. These medications are most beneficial to people with larger prostates. Examples include:

  • Finasteride (Proscar®).
  • Dutasteride (Avodart®).

Your healthcare provider may prescribe combined medications that help treat your symptoms as well as improve your urine flow. One example is dutasteride and tamsulosin (Jalyn®).

After you start a medication, it may take between one and eight weeks for your symptoms to improve.

Surgery

Several surgical options are available to remove prostate tissue that obstructs the urethra and alleviate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These include Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), where a resectoscope is used to view and remove tissue; Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP), which involves making small incisions to widen the urethra; Transurethral Electrovaporization, utilizing an electrode to convert enlarged tissue cells into steam; GreenLight™ Laser Treatment (also known as photoselective vaporization of the prostate), which employs a laser to evaporate excess tissue; and Aquablation®, where high-pressure water jets precisely remove prostate tissue. Each option has its own benefits and considerations, making it essential to consult with a urologist to determine the best approach for individual needs.

Minimally invasive treatments

New treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are primarily designed to be less invasive and to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue compared to traditional surgeries. Many of these outpatient procedures allow patients to return home the same day, typically involve lower costs, and are associated with fewer side effects and quicker recovery times. Nevertheless, as these techniques are relatively recent innovations, there is limited data available regarding their long-term effects and potential complications, making it crucial for patients to discuss these considerations with their healthcare providers before proceeding.

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