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Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About an Enlarged Prostate

For starters, it’s a natural part of getting older

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Many people are unaware of a common health condition for men as they grow older: benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate or BPH. There is little discussion about BPH despite the fact that it will affect most men as they age. Here are a few things you should know about BPH and BPH treatments.

  1. It’s not cancerous, benign is baked right into the name…so what is BPH?  
    BPH is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged and presses against the urethra obstructing the flow of urine. BPH does not result in cancer but left untreated, it can lead to more serious urinary, bladder and kidney problems.  

  2. You’re Not Alone 
    BPH is a surprisingly common health condition – it is considered one of the most common diseases for mature men and the most common cause of urinary issues.1  The occurrence of BPH increases with age. In fact, 50% of men by age 60, 70% of men over 60 years old and 90% of men by age 85 will experience BPH.2,3 

  3. Why did I get it? 
    Researchers aren’t completely sure what causes BPH and why some men get it and others don’t. However, for just about all men, BPH is a natural part of getting older. The prostate gland goes through two growth spurts in a lifetime. First, the prostate doubles in size in your teens, with a second growth period at the age of 25 that continues for the rest of your life.4 Other risk factors can include family history of BPH, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.2

  4. How do you know if you have BPH?  
    BPH can cause frustrating symptoms, including frequent urination; weak, interrupted urine stream; a hard time starting and stopping urination; feeling a sudden urge to urinate; inability to urinate when needed; and lack of control over urination; among other things.5 

    BPH can affect your day-to-day life and as a result of these symptoms, leave you feeling embarrassed, tired and uncomfortable. Sound familiar? Take the quiz here to understand the severity of your BPH symptoms and use it as a discussion guide with your doctor.  

  5. Silver Lining – BPH Treatments That Can Help  
    The good news is that there are several treatments for BPH. These can include watchful waiting, behavior and lifestyle modifications such as eating healthy, losing extra body weight, or reducing liquids before bed.5 Other enlarged prostate treatments include medications, laser therapy, minimally invasive procedures such as Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy and invasive surgery. 

    Medications may not work for everyone, and may have undesirable side effects such as dizziness, erectile dysfunction and lower sex drive.6 Minimally invasive or surgical therapy might be recommended if, for example, symptoms are not resolved with medication or you have other health issues. Many patients are moving towards new treatments for BPH, such as minimally invasive procedures that can be done in the physician’s office to avoid time in the hospital or potential impact to sexual function.

    Rezūm is the only in-office therapy that uses water vapor to shrink your prostate and offer lasting relief from your BPH symptoms. It uses natural water vapor to reduce the size of the prostate for a more natural treatment for enlarged prostate. It provides lasting relief from BPH symptoms without invasive surgery and the side effects of prescription drugs.7,8

Now that you know the common BPH causes and treatments, talk to your doctor about Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy. Find a doctor who offers Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy near you and set up an appointment today. 

Do you have BPH?

Take our BPH quiz to gain insight into the severity of your symptoms and help kick-start the conversation about BPH with a doctor.

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Find a Doctor

Use our Doctor Finder to get in direct contact with urologists who specialize in using Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy to treat BPH. 

References:

  1. Lim KB. Epidemiology of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia. Asian J Urol. 2017 Jul;4(3):148-51.  
  2. Barry M, Roehrborn C. Management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ann Rev Med. 1997 Feb;48:177-89 
  3. Berry SJ, Coffey DS, Walsh PC, et al. The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. J Urol. 1984 Sep;132(3):474-9. 
  4. Jarvis TR, Chughtai B, Kaplan SA. Testosterone and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Asian J Androl. 2015;17(2):212-6. 
  5. Carter HB. Prostate Disorders: The Johns Hopkins White Papers. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2010:1-24.
  6. Roger K, Gilling P. Fast Facts: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. 7th edition. Health Press. 2011.
  7. McVary KT, Rogers T, Roehrborn CG. Rezūm water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: 4-year results from randomized controlled study. Urology. 2019 Apr;126:171-9.
  8. McVary KT, Roehrborn C. Five year results of the prospective, randomized controlled trial of water vapor thermal therapy for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Late-Breaking Abstract. J Urol. 2020 Apr;203(4):e1021.

All treatments have inherent and associated risks. The Rezūm System is intended to relieve symptoms, obstructions, and reduce prostate tissue associated with BPH. It is indicated for men ≥ 50 years of age with a prostate volume 30cm3 ≤ 80cm3. The Rezūm System is also indicated for treatment of prostate with hyperplasia of the central zone and/or a median lobe. Potential risks include but are not limited to painful urination (dysuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), blood in the semen (hematospermia), decrease in ejaculatory volume, suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), and urinary frequency, retention or urgency. You should talk with your doctor about benefits and risks before moving forward with any treatment option.
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