Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the medical term for an enlarged prostate, the "male" gland. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder and grows larger with age.
As the prostate grows, it presses against the urethra and causes bothersome urinary symptoms such as:
- Urgency to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Weak urinary stream
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Difficulty starting urination
BPH affects more than 500 million men worldwide, and most men in their 60s that are experiencing bothersome urinary symptoms.
Minimally Invasive Treatments for BPH
- Medical Monitoring
- Medications: Certain oral medications may be perscribed to relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder, or to reduce hormonal production that enlarges the prostate
- Urolift® System: A minimally invasive treatment that creates a wider channel for urine to flow
- Greenlight Laser Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure that lasers prostatic tissue blocking urine flow
- Electrovaporization of the Prostate: A method that uses heat to relieve pressure from prostatic tissue
- Transurethral resection of the Prostate (TURP): A surgical procedure in which a thin tube is inserted into the urethra and allows the surgeon to cut prostatic tissue that is blocking urine flow
- Robotic (Laparoscopic) Prostatectomy: A minimally invasive procedure in which the prostate gland is extracted through small incisions in the abdomen