Recognizing the Early Signs of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia - Dr Tanuj Paul Bhatia

The prostate gland is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It wraps around the upper part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. This means prostate problems can affect urination and sexual function.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a health issue that is more prevalent as people age, and it is also known as an enlarged prostate. BPH is so common that it has been said all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough. It affects 28.1 million men in India and can impact the quality of life for many individual. An enlarged prostate can cause symptoms that may be disturbing to the body.

The exact cause of BPH is unknown, however hormonal changes associated with aging, particularly an increase in levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can be a possible cause of BPH. Prostate enlargement can compress the urethra, resulting in a range of symptoms related to the urinary system.

Typical symptoms of BPH include:

1. Frequent need or urge to urinate

2. Increased frequency of urination during night time.

3. Difficulty in urinating – an enlarged prostate may impede the passage of urethra, making it difficult to urinate.

4. Dribbling at the end of the urination

5. Inability to fully evacuate the bladder – some men may experience a feeling of not being able to empty their bladder completely.

6. Straining while urinating - urine may need to be forced out with more effort.

Less common symptoms may include:

1. Urinary tract infection (UTI): These are common infections caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and infect the urinary system. These germs are usually from the skin or the rectum.

2. Hematuria: A health condition when there is blood in the urine.

BPH symptoms typically worsen over time. However, sometimes they may stay same or may improve over time. The severity of the symptoms is not necessarily correlated with the prostate's size.

Some individuals with modestly enlarged prostates may experience severe symptoms and on the other hand some men with greatly enlarged prostate may experience minor problems. In some cases, individuals with enlarged prostates show no symptoms at all.

Prostate anatomy and location

The effect on urine function may vary depending on where the prostate enlargement occurs. More visible symptoms may result from an enlargement that mostly affects the central or transitional zone of the prostate, the area where the gland surrounds the urethra. However, periphery expansion might not have as much of an impact on urine flow.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can be managed with several treatment modalities such as medications, surgical procedures and minimally invasive surgeries such as water vapour therapy that has emerged as a new and cutting-edge, non-invasive solution for addressing prostate concerns.

Water Vapor Therapy uses the natural energy stored in water vapour, or steam. It is a minimally invasive treatment available to relieve symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.

During each 9-second treatment, sterile water vapour is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam turns back into water, all the stored energy is released, causing the cells to die ensuring the safety of individuals seeking advanced solutions for prostate health.

Over time, the patient’s body's natural healing response removes the dead cells, shrinking the prostate, With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms.

Most patients begin to experience symptom relief in as soon as two weeks, and maximum benefit may occur within three months, Patient responses can and do vary.

While water vapour therapy and laser therapy have the potential to be highly effective in BPH patients, there are plenty of options for patients including medication, surgeries (minimally invasive and major) and permanent implants that can be referred by the urologist depending on their medical conditions.

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