A healthy adult urinates 5-7 times per day. However, some men, particularly as they age, need to use the restroom every couple of hours. This frequency may increase during the night (nocturia), disrupting their sleep. Other issues that these men may experience include a weak urine stream, difficulty initiating a stream of urine (urinary hesitancy), bladder feeling full despite passing urine (urinary retention), a burning sensation while urinating (dysuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), and so on.
“If you have any of these symptoms, you may have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH),” says Dr. Sree Kiran, Managing Director of Peacock Hospital in Tiruttani and the Chief Urologist.
The prostate gland, which is only found in men, produces fluids for the semen. The gland wraps around the urethra near the bladder neck, which is the tube that transports urine. Once a man reaches his 50s, his prostate gland starts growing. When it reaches a certain size, however, it can block the bladder by pressing on the urethra, causing urination problems. Men’s chances of developing BPH increase as they reach the age of 50 or older.
In a small town like Tiruttani, awareness of BPH is extremely low. Men tend to ignore symptoms and postpone seeing a doctor until the symptoms become unbearable. Enlarged prostate is so common in older men, they often mistake it for normal, age-related change. They get a false sense of security as a result of this. “Most men with BPH end up in the emergency room because they can’t pass urine. Due to the inability to pass urine, the bladder fills up, causing intense pain that can be debilitating,” explains Dr. Kiran. In such cases, a catheter is inserted into the bladder to remove the urine providing immediate relief. The patient is then diagnosed with transrectal ultrasound and various treatment options are discussed.
Tiruttani, as a temple town, attracts a fair number of visitors. “I have had patients come to the temple for a visit and end up in Peacock hospital with urinary retention due to BPH. In such cases, we catheterize the patients to provide temporary relief, educate them about their condition, and send them home with instructions to seek medical attention as soon as possible,” Dr. Kiran explains.
The most common procedure used to treat BPH is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which removes excess prostate tissue and reduces the size of the prostate. Laser TURP and Bipolar TURP are procedures available to patients at Peacock Hospital. According to Dr. Kiran, both methods produce similar results, and the decision is made based on the patient’s comfort and financial situation.
“Surgery is only recommended as a last resort when the bladder is completely blocked. When diagnosed early on, BPH can be controlled with medications alone,” says Dr. Kiran. Alpha-blockers are the most common choice of medicines that work by relaxing the prostate muscles thereby improving urine flow.
“Ignoring the symptoms of BPH and not having proper treatment for it can lead to multiple health issues,” warns Dr. Kiran. Urinary retention in the bladder can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and can also lead to kidney damage in the long run. “After the age of 50, men should have regular checkups with a Urologist to stay ahead of BPH and its complications,” Dr. Kiran advises.