If you’re a man and you’re bothered by frequent urination, the frequent urge to “go,” increased nighttime bathroom trips, or a weak or intermittent urine stream, you may have an enlarged prostate. To find out if an enlarged prostate is causing your symptoms, team up with Huntington Urology Specialists, located in Pasadena, California. Armen Dikranian, MD, Ramin Khalili, MD, and their specialized staff understand that all men experience prostate enlargement as they age, and it’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. Take charge of your urinary health by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.
request an appointmentWhat is the prostate?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland you find only in the male reproductive system. Located just below the bladder and surrounding the urethra, it’s made up of two lobes enclosed by a layer of tissue.
One of the main functions of the prostate is to push fluid into the urethra as sperm passes through it during a sexual climax. This fluid, which is one component of semen, invigorates the sperm and lowers the acidity of the vaginal canal as it enters it.
What is an enlarged prostate?
An enlarged prostate, caused by a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is common in older men. The prostate has two main periods of growth. At puberty, it doubles in size and then, starting around the age of 50, it begins growing again.
Eventually, the prostate’s surrounding layer prevents it from expanding anymore, and it presses into the urethra like a clamp presses into a garden hose.
As a result, the bladder wall thickens, becomes irritable, and contracts even when you only have a small amount of urine in it.
BPH is most common in older men simply because the prostate has had more time to enlarge. Most men don’t notice symptoms of BPH until, at the earliest, in their 40s. Meanwhile, more than 50 percent of men in their 60s, and around 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s, experience BPH symptoms.
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:
- Frequent urination
- The frequent urge to “go”
- Multiple trips to the bathroom at night (nocturia)
- Trouble initiating urination
- Urine streams that stop and start frequently
- Weak urine streams
- The inability to fully empty your bladder and/or dribbling at the end
Less frequently, an enlarged prostate can cause blood in your urine, the complete inability to urinate, or a urinary tract infection.
How do you treat an enlarged prostate?
Treatment for an enlarged prostate depends on a few different factors, including your:
- Age
- Prostate size
- Overall health
- Level of discomfort
For more mild symptoms, the practice typically treats your symptoms with medications that do things like shrink the prostate or relax the bladder and prostate muscles to make urination easier.
If your symptoms are moderate to severe, or if medication hasn’t worked in the past, Huntington Urology Specialists may recommend minimally invasive surgery.
If you’re in pain and you suspect it’s from an enlarged prostate, don’t wait to seek relief. Instead, reach out to Huntington Urology Specialists and schedule an appointment online or over the phone today.