Enlarged Prostate - Find The Treatment That's Best For You

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, more commonly known as enlarged prostate, is a non-cancerous condition in which prostate cells grow, enlarging the gland, and consequently squeezing the urethra. As a result, urinating may become difficult and/or frequent. It is a common enough occurrence that an estimated fifty percent of men over the age of sixty will develop this condition. Even more so, ninety percent of men over the age of 85 will suffer the symptoms. Fortunately, there are numerous avenues of management and treatment for this condition.

First, before you see a urologist, you should have at least an idea of what the symptoms for an enlarged prostate are. There are many websites that provide a free questionnaire to help you determine whether or not you might need to take the next step and find a urologist. Here are a few, possible examples: Are you urinating more frequently? Do you have a week urine flow? When you are finished do you still feel the need to urinate? Do you limit your daily activities to stay near a restroom? Are you losing sleep for frequent urinating at night?

If you decide you need to visit with a urologist, meet with more than one. Get a second, or even a third opinion. Know for sure if the money you're about to invest in treatment and management for an enlarged prostate is really necessary. You will also have a better idea of who you would like most to conduct the treatment. It makes it a more comfortable process if you are more comfortable with the doctor and staff.

There are three possible avenues of treatment and management for an enlarged prostate. Medication is the first line of action. While this method is non-invasive and completely devoid of hospital stay and recovery, it can still prove to be costly in the long run. It is most likely the medication will be needed permanently because if you stop taking it, it stops working. A second, and sort of middle ground, form of treatment is a non-surgical, catheter based treatment. This is an alternative to surgery. As an office-based treatment, it is less invasive, allows for quicker recovery, and can be completed in as short as a half hour. However, although the success rate is very high, it is not necessarily a permanent cure. Symptoms may reappear after five years, or not at all. The other option in treating an enlarged prostate is surgery. While this is a more invasive procedure and the recovery time does take longer, the success rate is also high and is very likely to be a permanent correction.

Individual results will vary, as with any medical procedure. Discuss your options thoroughly with your urologist then do some of your own research. The more you know the advantages and disadvantages to your options, the better choice you will make for yourself. An enlarged prostate does not need to control your life. Take charge and find the treatment that's best for you.