Category: BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH, describes an enlarged prostate gland in men. It is a condition many men will eventually experience, and it progresses as a man ages. Let’s discover the dangers of leaving BPH untreated.

Basic Facts About BPH

The prostate gland is a small gland about the size of a walnut located below the bladder and near the urethra. It is an important gland since it produces semen.

It does not cause prostate cancer and is not a risk factor for cancer.

About one out of four men will have uncomfortable symptoms of an enlarged prostate by age 55. By age 80 about half will have symptoms that require treatment.

Some of the most common risk factors besides age include family history, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. There is other information that there may be factors resulting from rising testosterone and changes in the cellular level in the testes.

The Effects Of BPH

When the prostate gland enlarges, it restricts urine flow due to its proximity to the urethra.

The prostate continues to enlarge until it begins to constrict the ability for a man to urinate.

As men begin to have symptoms of BPH, they may experience the following effects:

• A weak stream
• Difficulty starting and stopping urination
• Urgency
• Frequent feeling of needing to urinate
• Sense that the bladder is not empty
• Getting up several times at night to urinate
• Painful urination and ejaculation

Why BPH Should Be Treated

Some men will have minimal symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia at first. When the prostate begins to grow, there is a reduced ability for the bladder to hold urine. In addition, as the prostate grows larger, there can be some serious consequences if a man doesn’t have treatment.

This can lead to a complete blockage of the urethra, kidney damage, the development of both kidney and bladder stones and infections, urinary tract infections, and back up of pressure that damages the kidneys, plus other conditions that can require medical intervention.

Luckily, today there are minimally invasive treatments to open the urethra, drugs to shrink the prostate, and others to relax the muscles. There is no one treatment that is best for all men. There are surgical options as well.

The decision to treat BPH is between the patient and Board-certified urologist, Dr. Siddiq. This is usually based on a man’s age, his general health and the severity of the symptoms.

Contact Dr. Farjaad Siddiq at (337) 480-7499 to learn about all your treatment options for the symptoms of BPH.

It seems every type of treatment for every kind of medical issue comes with side effects. Simple things like taking aspirin have side effects with some being positive and others negative. Certain treatments and procedures have their own set of side effects. Typically your doctor will help you weigh the risks vs the benefits of your decision. Any type of prostate procedure can cause side effects, most of which are not desirable. Maybe things are changing. Let’s learn about the benefits of Aquablation for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

What Is an Enlarged Prostate?

Known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is the term reserved for an enlarged prostate. Benign signifies it is not cancerous, but it creates many issues mostly for men over the age of 50.

They are frequently called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) including:

• Frequent urination
• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Weak stream
• Feeling of an incomplete bladder emptying

Dr. Farjaad Siddiq may suggest a PSA blood test which tells what level of a protein antigen is in your bloodstream.

Some physicians take a “watch and wait” approach with meds to reduce the symptoms.

Exploring Treatment Options and Potential Side Effects

How long you watch and wait and continue to take medications is not set in stone.

There are several treatments and surgeries to relieve the symptoms of BPH as described above. Unfortunately, they can end up causing another set of symptoms including erectile dysfunction, bleeding, incontinence, frequent urinary tract infections, and semen flowing backwards into the bladder.

What Are the Benefits of Aquablation Therapy for BPH?

Aquablation therapy is a newer treatment for the symptoms of BPH. It answers the dilemma of waiting too long vs dealing with the symptoms.

If you are living with the LUTS of BPH, Aquablation therapy may be the answer for you. It is a one of a kind treatment using high definition imaging in real time, ultrasound guided and a robotic-assisted waterjet without heat. It is non-invasive since no incision is necessary as the water moves through the urethra.

The water ablates the problematic tissue in the prostate and protects other tissue in order to preserve your sexual functionality and continence.

Many clinical publications and studies have shown that:

• 100% of patients had no effect on their sexual functionality, satisfaction, sexual desire or orgasms.
• Over 99% of men did not have incontinence after the therapy.
• 89% of men retained their ability to ejaculate normally.
• 94% did not need any further treatments or surgeries 5 years after Aquablation.

There is no need to compromise sexual performance for reduced symptoms. Aquablation has fewer side effects than all the other surgical procedures.

Aquablation Therapy in Lake Charles, LA

If you are living with the symptoms of BPH, but want to sleep through the night again, take less breaks during your workday, and sit through an entire show or movie without having to “hit the head,” maybe Aquablation is your answer.

Contact Dr. Siddiq at (337) 480-7499 to schedule an evaluation and discussion of whether Aquablation is right for you.

Living with an enlarged prostate—also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—can significantly affect a man’s quality of life, causing symptoms like frequent urination, weak urine flow, or incomplete bladder emptying. 

Fortunately, advances in treatment have made it easier to manage BPH without invasive surgery. One promising option is UroLift, a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve symptoms quickly and effectively. Below, we look at UroLift’s uses, benefits, risks, and how it compares to other treatments.

Continue reading “Understanding UroLift: Your Guide to Enlarged Prostate Treatment” →