TREATMENT FOR THE ENLARGED PROSTATE

Active monitoring

In some cases, it is best to monitor the patient and undertake regular assessments of the symptoms and their impact on the patient’s lifestyle. Immediate treatment may not be necessary; however it is important to assess the patient on a regular basis.

Medication

Medication can be used to relax the muscle tissue around the bladder and in most cases, there is some improvement within days, with full benefits evident by six weeks. Patients may experience side-effects and different combinations of medicines are often used to ensure the greatest benefit. It is therefore critical that the medication is managed by a specialist in prostate disorders.

Surgery

The most common operation undertaken for benign prostate enlargement is called a transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP. During this procedure the surplus parts of the prostate are removed using a heated wire in order to reduce the restriction around the urethra. Patients will spend an average of three to four days in hospital followed by a recovery period at home. There are several complications associated with surgery. Studies estimate around 74 per cent of men will experience retrograde ejaculation, when sperm enters the bladder instead of being expelled through the penis. Sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence are complications affecting a smaller proportion of men after surgery.

Green light laser therapy

Click here to find out more about Greenlight Laser therapy.