Guest blog: Dr. Stephen Siegel on treating an enlarged prostate

For most men, the reality of aging means developing an enlarged prostate. In fact, an enlarged prostate — medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — affects about half of all men between ages 51 and 60. Up to 90% of men over age 80 have BPH.

The prostate gland continues to grow during adult life. As the prostate grows, it may cause significant urinary symptoms and more nighttime trips to the bathroom. If left untreated, the bladder muscle may become weak and cause health problems, including irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.

Symptoms of BPH include:

• Having a frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Waking up many times to urinate
• Trouble starting to urinate
• A urine stream that's weak, slow, or stops and starts
• Dribbling after urination
• Urinary incontinence
• Feeling that you can't completely empty your bladder

Lifestyle changes may improve mild symptoms. They include:

• Drinking less before bedtime or going out
• Avoiding or cutting back on beverages with caffeine and alcohol
• Bladder training and exercising the muscles that control urine flow

Medication can help mild-to-moderate symptoms. However, the most commonly prescribed medications that have traditionally been used to treat BPH can have several side effects, including sexual issues.

Surgery can help improve moderate-to-severe BPH symptoms. However, the potential permanent side effects of traditional surgery include an impact on sexual function.

The newest way to reliably remove any size prostate with the least likelihood of sexual side effects is called Aquablation® therapy — a minimally invasive, robotically controlled surgical procedure. To learn more about this new therapy, schedule an appointment with Dr. Siegel at Boulder Medical Center by calling (303) 440-3093.

Click here to view/download Dr. Siegel's slides from his lecture on "Latest treatments for an enlarged prostate."