An enlarged prostate can make everyday life frustrating. You may have a weak urine stream, need to go more often, or find yourself getting up several times a night to use the bathroom.
If you’re wondering what is the best treatment for enlarged prostate, there isn’t one answer for everyone. The right treatment depends on your symptoms, prostate size, and how well your bladder is emptying.
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery.
1. What Is the Best Treatment for an Enlarged Prostate?
The best treatment depends on how much benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is affecting you.
If your symptoms are mild, your urologist may suggest monitoring them and making a few changes at home. If BPH starts affecting your sleep or daily life, medication may be the next step.
Procedures or surgery may be a better choice if your symptoms are more severe or other treatments haven’t worked well enough.
Your urologist will look at your symptoms, prostate size, urine flow and how well your bladder empties before recommending treatment.
2. Does an Enlarged Prostate Always Need Treatment?
Not always. If your symptoms are mild and you’re able to empty your bladder, your urologist may recommend keeping an eye on your BPH.
A few changes may also make mild symptoms easier to manage:
- Limit fluids close to bedtime.
- Cut back on caffeine and alcohol.
- Try double voiding. This means urinating, waiting a short time and then trying again.
Talk with your urologist if your symptoms get worse or start interfering with your daily life.
3. What Medications Are Used to Treat BPH?
Several types of medicine can treat BPH. They work in different ways.
- Alpha blockers relax muscles around the prostate and bladder so urine can flow more easily. Examples include tamsulosin, alfuzosin, silodosin, doxazosin and terazosin.
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors slowly shrink the prostate. Finasteride and dutasteride are two examples.
- Tadalafil can improve urinary symptoms caused by BPH. It’s also used to treat erectile dysfunction.
If you have a larger prostate, your urologist may recommend taking an alpha blocker and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor together.
4. How Quickly Do BPH Medications Work?
It depends on which medicine you take.
Alpha blockers often work fairly quickly because they relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder.
Finasteride and dutasteride work more slowly because they shrink the prostate over time. It can take several months to see the full results.
Your urologist can explain what to expect from the medicine you’re taking and when you may notice a change in your symptoms.
5. What Procedures Are Available for BPH?
If medicine isn’t giving you enough relief, your urologist may talk with you about a procedure. Options include:
- UroLift: Small implants hold enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra so urine can flow more easily. It doesn’t involve cutting, heating or removing prostate tissue.
- GreenLight laser therapy: A laser removes prostate tissue that’s blocking urine flow. This can improve urine flow and relieve BPH symptoms.
- Prostate artery embolization (PAE): This procedure reduces blood flow to parts of the prostate so it gets smaller over time.
Each treatment works differently and isn’t right for everyone. Your prostate size and anatomy can help determine which options may work for you.
6. When Is Surgery a Better Treatment for an Enlarged Prostate?
Your urologist may recommend surgery if other treatments haven’t worked or BPH causes problems such as:
- Trouble emptying your bladder
- Repeated urinary tract infections
- Bladder stones
- Kidney problems
- Repeated bleeding
What Is the Best Treatment for Enlarged Prostate?
The best BPH treatment depends on your symptoms and needs. Some men do well with medication. Others get better relief from a minimally invasive procedure or surgery.
You don’t have to simply live with frequent bathroom trips, a weak urine stream, or trouble emptying your bladder. A urologist can find out what’s causing your symptoms and talk with you about your treatment options.
Comprehensive Urologic Care sees patients in Lake Barrington, Elgin, Hoffman Estates and Crystal Lake. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and find the treatment that’s right for you.