Half of All Men Ages 50+ Have This – Are You One?

Slow Streaming Speed? An Uplifting Solution for Your Enlarged Prostate

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, (BPH), is the medical term for enlarged prostate. And, about half of all men over the age of 50 have it.

Unless you’re a medical professional, you probably don’t remember the anatomy class you took in high school or college. So, here’s a little refresher on your prostate, a senior-ranking member of the male anatomy.

Your prostate is an important reproductive gland located below the neck of the bladder. The urethra runs through the center of the prostate from the bladder, and through the penis where urine flows out.

Bigger is Not Better

The prostate’s “normal” size is about that of a walnut. With age, the prostate often grows larger and begins to press on, and obstruct the urethra. This can result in symptoms such as frequent daytime urination, getting up multiple times nightly to urinate, a weak or slow stream, the feeling of not emptying the bladder completely, an urgent need to urinate, or difficulty starting a urinary stream. Although BPH is a benign condition, it may progress beyond mere inconvenience to major life disruptor.

Drugs to reduce or eliminate symptoms may be prescribed but can cause side effects like headache, dizziness, or low blood pressure. (And that’s if you remember to take them.) When BPH becomes more intrusive and medications are no longer effective, surgical options become the treatment of choice. Many men have undergone a surgical procedure called a TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), a procedure performed in a surgical center under general anesthesia. TURP involves the cutting away of excess prostate tissue and has a recovery time of about six to eight weeks.

Please note: If you’re experiencing one or more symptoms described here, please don’t assume that BPH is the cause. Always check with a doctor to rule out a more serious issue. Prostate cancer symptoms may be similar to those of BPH. All men should be aware of certain known prostate cancer risk factors). It’s important to diagnose prostate cancer early and to visit a specialist, like a urologist, who knows how to diagnose prostate cancer. AUI encourages all men to learn about prostate cancer prevention.

A Polite Way to Say “Get off my bladder!”

UroLift is a simpler, less invasive procedure that takes less time, requires very little recovery time, and doesn’t adversely affect sexual function.

Clinical data from a 206-patient randomized controlled study showed that men with enlarged prostates receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable improvement in their symptoms and urinary flow without compromising sexual function. Recovery is also faster than it is with traditional surgery, called transurethral resection (TURP), with minimal side effects, according to NeoTract.

The UroLift System, which the FDA approved in 2013, involves inserting tiny implants that push the prostate off the urethra; UroLift’s producer, NeoTract Inc., likens it to tie-backs that hold window curtains open.

Hays, Kim. “Help for Men With Enlarged Prostates.” AARP, 16 June. 2017,
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/enlarged-prostate-urolift-treatment-fd.html

UroLift is typically a one-time, in-office solution that provides rapid relief and recovery of BPH symptoms. It can break the cycle of daily medications and provides a much less invasive treatment option for BPH. UroLift is performed under local anesthesia in less than 30 minutes and doesn’t carry the risk of possible lasting erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction that a TURP might cause.

As UroLift has been studied more thoroughly, it has become the surgical treatment option of choice for most urologists. It works by implanting small “stents” that lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra. It does not require heating, cutting, or removal of the prostate tissue.

At one month, 80% of men reported being “much better” or “very much better”, and 89% would recommend the procedure. Bother due to ejaculatory function improved rapidly and remained modestly improved at one year (p=0.001). No patient reported de novo sustained ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction.
“12-month data show UroLift system a good treatment option for men with BPH” Interventional News, 14 Dec. 2018

If you feel as though your prostate is “stepping on your bladder”, or if you notice any symptoms or recent changes at all, we welcome you for a consultation.

We will work to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and to see if UroLift is a good option for you. (Most insurance, including Medicare, will typically provide coverage for the procedure).

Remember, symptoms are indicators but don’t always point to a diagnosis. Prostate cancer symptoms like back pain, in addition to prostate enlargement, may provide a clue that your condition is more serious than BPH. And, while there may be a correlation between prostate cancer and age, some very young men do get this form of cancer. Never procrastinate seeing a doctor due to fear, and never self-diagnose. Prostate cancer treatment is very effective, especially with early intervention.