Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that happens in many men as they age, and can lead to urinary problems such as frequent nighttime urination and incontinence, or problems urinating. Up to 25% of men have this problem by the age of 80. Fortunately, enlarged prostate treatment options are varied and widely available, and fall into two basic categories: medication, and surgery.

Of the medication, there are two basic types: alpha blockers, which relax muscles and blood vessels, and anti-androgens, which slow down the production of male hormones. Both are commonly prescribed, sometimes in combination. Side effects vary, with alpha blockers tending to cause low blood pressure, and anti-androgens tending to cause low sexual desire. Flomax is an example of a popular alpha blocker, and finasteride is a popular anti-androgen. There has been some concern that anti-androgens can increase the risk of prostate cancer long term, although evidence for this is still inconclusive.

Many times, medication alone can help enlarged prostate sufferers, but sometimes more is needed. Surgical procedures are the next step in treatment, which divide into two: minimally invasive outpatient procedures, and hospital-based surgery.

Outpatient procedures, done in the doctor’s office with local anesthetic and the patient able to go home the same day, involve heating up the prostate gland to destroy the tissue. Over the course of about a month, the dead prostate cells will be absorbed by the body and thus shrink the prostate gland. The two basic types are transurethral laser ablation, and transurethral microwave thermotherapy. Both are similar end results.

If the above fails to work, or if the urologist thinks that more is needed, the enlarged prostate patient can go with the most effective treatment: transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. This usually involves general anesthesia as well as a hospital stay. The surgeon goes in through the urethra and surgically removes part of the prostate. This is probably the most effective permanent enlarged prostate treatment, although it is associated with a few risks, such as urinary incontinence, and in elderly men a condition similar to stroke involving confusion and confusion.