4/6/2021 Prostate Enlargement: Facts and Myths | by shyam varma | Medium

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Prostate Enlargement: Facts and Myths

shyam varma Jun 28, 2019 · 2 min read

We may not like discussing about our receding hairline or growing waistline, but few
facts about age can’t be denied or worse, if not known can be serious.

Prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign

enlargement of prostate(BEP) is one such condition which is common after the age of
50 years in men. Let us discuss few facts and myths about prostate gland.

Prostate gland is a walnut shape gland situated below the bladder and commonly grows
in size as the age advances. Two growth spurts occur in concern to prostate gland, one at

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puberty and other after the age of 30 years. But the symptoms of prostate enlargement
starts manifesting clinically only after age of 50 years.

As the prostate enlarges it compress the urinary tube called urethra leading to various
urinary symptoms. Bladder tries to compensate it by working hard trying to push urine
out. Eventually bladder gets fatigued and the amount of urine retained increases to such
extent that patient lands in emergency department with complete inability to pass urine.
Some patients may continue to dribble urine with discomfort. Few patients may land up
with urinary tract infection or bladder stones. Few unfortunate ones may land up in
reflux nephropathy and kidney failure.

Do you know the warning signs and symptoms of prostate enlargement? These are the
common things to be looked at,

Increase frequency of urination at night — to be precise increase number of times

getting up from bed during sleep.

Increased day time frequency

Urgency

Urinary incontinence

Burning while passing urine

Delayed start of urination

Poor stream of urine

Thin stream of urine

Sense of incomplete urination

Interrupted stream

After thorough medical and rectal examination, urologist may ask for ultrasound
abdomen, urine tests and few blood tests. You may be also asked to undergo uroflowrate
and/or urodynamic test.

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Beside medical treatment for prostate, if need be, we have (HOLEP) laser treatment for
removal of prostate.

Advantages of laser prostatectomy over conventional treatment are,

Less blood loss

Early recovery

Less hospitalization

Less pain post op

Can be operated on patients with anticoagulants/blood thinners

Can be operated on patients with pace makers

Can be operated for high risk patients

Can be operated for even large sized glands with safety

The myth — Size matters. No, it doesn’t! This is the biggest myth about an enlarged
prostate. Big symptoms may indicate a small enlargement, and vice versa. The severity
of the signs simply does not always correlate with size.

Also, while the symptoms suggest an enlarged prostate, they also might indicate other
conditions that require further examination. Signs of an enlarged prostate, for example,
can be similar to those of prostate cancer. See urologist and put your fear behind.

Originally published at https://www.drshyamvarma.com on June 28, 2019.

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