Getting up at night, with a stream that starts slow?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) means the prostate has grown, which happens to many men as the years add up. The prostate sits below the bladder and, as it grows, can squeeze the flow of urine.
Sound familiar?
- Needing to go often or urgently, especially at night.
- Trouble starting, or a weak stream that stops and starts.
- Dribbling at the end, or feeling the bladder hasn't emptied.
Size and symptoms don't always match, so a small change can still be bothersome. Being unable to go at all, running a fever, or seeing blood in the toilet are reasons to get seen the same day.
What do we check?
We go over how your stream has changed and what you take, since some decongestants worsen it, and rule out look-alikes: infection, scar tissue in the urethra, stones, or a tumor. Plenty of men first walk into Crown Pointe Way because a primary care doctor flagged their PSA.
Which options may we discuss?
- Evening fluid timing, less caffeine and alcohol, and regular activity.
- Medicines, often the first step.
- UroLift: small implants that pull prostate tissue back from the channel.
- TURP, which trims obstructing tissue from the inside.
- Aquablation, HoLEP or robotic simple prostatectomy for larger glands.
- Prostate artery embolization, performed by an interventional radiologist.
Prostate size, your overall health and your priorities, sexual function among them, shape which option fits.
If a symptom is sudden, severe or comes with fever, use the emergency room rather than waiting for an appointment.
Ready to see one of our urologists? Call us to book a visit in Lawrenceville or Braselton.
Call (678) 344-8900Asking about Rezum?
Looking up Rezum? Advanced Urology doesn't provide Rezum. Our urologists offer these enlarged-prostate treatments instead:
- Medicines for an enlarged prostate
- UroLift
- Prostate artery embolization (PAE), performed by interventional radiologists
- Aquablation
- TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate)
- HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation of the prostate)
What do men ask about an enlarged prostate?
Do symptoms match prostate size?
Not always. On Crown Pointe Way we meet men with modest glands and miserable nights, and men with large glands who barely notice.
Which procedures preserve ejaculation?
UroLift and some other options are designed with that in mind; ask our urologists which fit your goals.
Can BPH damage the bladder?
Untreated blockage can strain the bladder over time, which is one reason to get checked.
What else do patients ask about this?
Do prostate medicines have side effects?
Some can cause dizziness or changes in ejaculation; our team explains what to watch for.
How often should a Dacula man repeat his PSA?
It depends on your age, history and prior results; we will recommend a schedule.
Will BPH turn into cancer?
No. BPH never turns into cancer, although a man can have both at once.
Which procedure would suit me?
Gland size and shape, overall health, and personal goals like keeping ejaculation steer the Norcross recommendation.
Is going a lot at night just part of getting older?
Plenty of Norcross adults have it, and plenty get relief. Many causes are treatable.
Does Norcross booking hinge on a referral?
Often it will not. Norcross callers can ask our schedulers to help confirm.
Could it be something other than the prostate?
Yes. Snoring with sleep apnea, a late supper with lots to drink, diabetes or a water pill can each be the real culprit for a Statham man.
Is BPH linked to prostate cancer?
BPH is not cancer and does not turn into it, but a PSA check is often part of the same visit.
Which videos can help?
Watch on YouTube: #002 - Go With the Flow: How Aquablation Clears the Way for BPH ReliefWhat the video covers: A podcast episode on Aquablation, a minimally invasive procedure for BPH, for men with frequent urination, weak flow or incomplete emptying.
- Watch: #002 - Go With the Flow: How Aquablation Clears the Way for BPH Relief
- Watch: #005 - Prostate Artery Embolization: A Surgery-Free Breakthrough for Enlarged Prostate
- Watch: #011 - Bladder Health: The Silent Consequences of an Enlarging Prostate
These open on Advanced Urology's YouTube channel.
Ready to talk with our urologists? We're here for you.