DiagnosisYour doctor will start by asking detailed questions about your symptoms and doing a physical exam. This initial exam is likely to include: Show
After that, your doctor might recommend additional tests to help confirm an enlarged prostate and to rule out other conditions. These tests include:
If your condition is more complex, your doctor may recommend:
Tests and diagnosis at Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic specialists have experience diagnosing complex conditions involving enlarged prostate. You have access to the latest diagnostic testing, including urodynamic and pressure flow studies. More Information
TreatmentA wide variety of treatments are available for enlarged prostate, including medication, minimally invasive therapies and surgery. The best treatment choice for you depends on several factors, including:
If your symptoms are tolerable, you might decide to postpone treatment and simply monitor your symptoms. For some men, symptoms can ease without treatment. MedicationMedication is the most common treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of prostate enlargement. The options include:
Minimally invasive or surgical therapyMinimally invasive or surgical therapy might be recommended if:
Minimally invasive or surgical therapy might not be an option if you have:
Any type of prostate procedure can cause side effects. Depending on the procedure you choose, complications might include:
There are several types of minimally invasive or surgical therapies. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)A lighted scope is inserted into your urethra, and the surgeon removes all but the outer part of the prostate. TURP generally relieves symptoms quickly, and most men have a stronger urine flow soon after the procedure. After TURP you might temporarily need a catheter to drain your bladder. Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)A lighted scope is inserted into your urethra, and the surgeon makes one or two small cuts in the prostate gland — making it easier for urine to pass through the urethra. This surgery might be an option if you have a small or moderately enlarged prostate gland, especially if you have health problems that make other surgeries too risky. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)Your doctor inserts a special electrode through your urethra into your prostate area. Microwave energy from the electrode destroys the inner portion of the enlarged prostate gland, shrinking it and easing urine flow. TUMT might only partially relieve your symptoms, and it might take some time before you notice results. This surgery is generally used only on small prostates in special circumstances because re-treatment might be necessary. Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)In this procedure, a scope is passed into your urethra, allowing your doctor to place needles into your prostate gland. Radio waves pass through the needles, heating and destroying excess prostate tissue that's blocking urine flow. TUNA may be an option in select cases, but the procedure is rarely used any longer. Laser therapyA high-energy laser destroys or removes overgrown prostate tissue. Laser therapy generally relieves symptoms right away and has a lower risk of side effects than does nonlaser surgery. Laser therapy might be used in men who shouldn't have other prostate procedures because they take blood-thinning medications. The options for laser therapy include:
Prostatic urethral lift (PUL)Special tags are used to compress the sides of the prostate to increase the flow of urine. The procedure might be recommended if you have lower urinary tract symptoms. PUL also might be offered to some men concerned about treatment impact on erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory problems, since the effect on ejaculation and sexual function is much lower with PUL that it is with TURP. EmbolizationIn this experimental procedure, the blood supply to or from the prostate is selectively blocked, causing the prostate to decrease in size. Long-term data on the effectiveness of this procedure aren't available. Open or robot-assisted prostatectomyThe surgeon makes an incision in your lower abdomen to reach the prostate and remove tissue. Open prostatectomy is generally done if you have a very large prostate, bladder damage or other complicating factors. The surgery usually requires a short hospital stay and is associated with a higher risk of needing a blood transfusion. Follow-up careYour follow-up care will depend on the specific technique used to treat your enlarged prostate. Your doctor might recommend limiting heavy lifting and excessive exercise for seven days if you have laser ablation, transurethral needle ablation or transurethral microwave therapy. If you have open or robot-assisted prostatectomy, you might need to restrict activity for six weeks.
Mayo Clinic Minute: Steam treatment for enlarged prostateJason Howland: It's a common problem for older men: benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Toby Kohler, M.D., Urology, Mayo Clinic: "BPH is a fancy way of saying the prostate is getting larger, and we don't want it to." Jason Howland: Dr. Toby Kohler, a Mayo Clinic urologist, says the enlarged prostate forces the urethra to narrow, causing a variety of urination problems. And as men age, the symptoms occur more frequently. Treatment for BPH has long been medications and procedures, such as lasers or an electric loop, which burn the prostate from the inside out. But, now, a relatively new convective water therapy treatment uses steam to make the prostate smaller. Dr. Kohler: "For nine seconds, a steam ball is produced and that kills all that prostate tissue that we don't want or that has grown out of control." Jason Howland: Dr. Kohler says the procedure, performed right in the doctor's office, has a very low risk for complications or sexual side effects. Dr. Kohler: "It does not carry heat outside the prostate, and it does not carry heat to areas we don't want it." Jason Howland: He says this next generation of BPH treatment may soon replace the need for costly medications. For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Jason Howland. Treatment at Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic specialists have training in a wide range of state-of-the-art technology to treat enlarged prostates. You have access to the latest noninvasive laser treatments, including HoLEP and PVP lasers. Your Mayo Clinic specialist will explain the range of treatments available and help you choose the best approach based on your symptoms. Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your health concerns. Visit Mayo Clinic Men's Health to get started. Get the process started More Information
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health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Lifestyle and home remediesTo help control the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, try to:
Alternative medicineThe Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved any herbal medications for treatment of an enlarged prostate. Studies on herbal therapies as a treatment for enlarged prostate have had mixed results. One study found that saw palmetto extract was as effective as finasteride in relieving symptoms of BPH, although prostate volumes weren't reduced. But a subsequent placebo-controlled trial found no evidence that saw palmetto is better than a placebo. Other herbal treatments — including beta-sitosterol extracts, pygeum and rye grass — have been suggested as helpful for reducing enlarged prostate symptoms. But the safety and long-term efficacy of these treatments hasn't been proved. If you take any herbal remedies, tell your doctor. Certain herbal products might increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with other medications you're taking. Preparing for your appointmentYou might be referred directly to a doctor who specializes in urinary issues (urologist). What you can do
Questions to ask your doctor
Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment. What to expect from your doctorYour doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them might give you more time to address any concerns. You might be asked:
What is the best treatment for enlarged prostate 2022?Medication is the most common treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of prostate enlargement. The options include: Alpha blockers. These medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate, making urination easier.
Are there any new treatments for enlarged prostate?Some of the newest treatment options, such as water vapor thermal therapy and prostatic urethral lift, can be done in the office without putting the patient to sleep, though these still employ medications to diminish discomfort with these relatively shorter procedures.
What is the gold standard treatment for enlarged prostate?Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is considered as the gold standard surgical treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
What is the least invasive treatment for enlarged prostate?The transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It uses radiofrequency waves to heat and destroy tissue of the enlarged prostate.
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