Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

Your prostate is a gland that creates fluids that carry sperm during ejaculation. This gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that allows urine to leave your body.

An enlarged prostate is a diagnosis you may receive if the gland grows in size, a condition also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While the exact cause of an enlarged prostate isn’t well understood, the condition doesn’t increase your risk factors for prostate cancer.

One of the most common causes of an enlarged prostate is the natural aging process. Changes in the testicle cells can cause growth in the prostate gland.

You may also experience prostate enlargement if you have changes in your testosterone hormone levels.

An enlarged prostate is very common in men, and nearly 90% will develop the condition by age 80.

You can have an enlarged prostate without showing any symptoms. However, increasing enlargement of the prostate can result in symptoms like:

• Weak urine stream
• Urinary incontinence
• Difficulties urinating
• Sudden urge to urinate
  

You may also feel like you can never completely empty your bladder or experience a worsening of pain when you urinate.

If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule a diagnostic consultation at Gulf Coast Urology as soon as possible.

During an evaluation, your Gulf Coast Urology provider discusses your medical history. They also manually examine your prostate, checking for swelling or pain. To rule out an infection, you may need to provide a sample of your urine for further evaluation at a medical lab.

If your symptoms need additional diagnostic evaluation, your Gulf Coast Urology provider can perform a cystoscopy in-office that involves the insertion of a slender tube with special lenses into your urethra to get a better look at your prostate gland.

The treatment for an enlarged prostate primarily depends on the severity of your symptoms. In many cases, the Gulf Coast Urology team continues to monitor your condition and symptoms if they aren’t currently bothering you.

However, if you experience increased difficulty or pain with urination, you may need treatment with medication to relax the bladder or prostate muscle. You may be a candidate for surgery if you experience urinary retention.

Gulf Coast Urology offers transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) procedures. This type of surgery focuses on treating urinary issues caused by an enlarged prostate and involves the insertion of a resectoscope, a specialized surgical instrument, into the tip of the penis and into the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body. Your provider uses the resectoscope to remove excess tissue that disrupts normal urine flow.

If you suspect you have an enlarged prostate or experience unexplained difficulties with urination, schedule a consultation at Gulf Coast Urology today online or by calling the office nearest you.