Watchful Waiting
If your BPH symptoms are mild to moderate and don’t interrupt your daily routine, your doctor may recommend a watch-and-wait approach. It includes active monitoring before considering other treatments.
Behavioural Modification
You can help control BPH symptoms by making lifestyle changes such as following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Getting regular exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight. Reducing stress in your life. Limiting caffeine, alcohol and other beverages in the evening. And avoiding decongestants and antihistamines and other medications that can aggravate symptoms.1
Medications
Alpha blockers relax the muscles in the bladder and prostate, making it easier to urinate. Alpha reductase inhibitors help shrink the prostate gland by blocking hormones.
Water Vapor Therapy
Water Vapor Therapy is a short hospital stay treatment that uses the natural energy stored in water vapour, or steam, to treat the excess prostate tissue causing symptoms such as irregular urine flow, a weak stream, straining or getting up at night to urinate. All while preserving sexual function.2 Talk with your GP or urologist to see if Water Vapor Therapy is right for you.
Photoselective Vaporisation of the Prostate
Photoselective Vaporisation of the Prostate (PVP) is also a short hospital stay procedure that uses a high-energy laser to remove your excess prostate tissue and return urine flow. Talk with your GP or urologist to see if PVP is right for you.
Other Surgical Options
TURP, transurethral resection of the prostate, involves using a superheated thin metal band to cut and remove tissue. Open prostatectomy may be required in complex cases. This procedure enables surgeons to remove the inner portion of the prostate blocking urine flow by making small incisions in the lower abdomen.
Take the Quiz
Take our BPH quiz to identify if you are experiencing BPH symptoms and help you
kick-start the conversation about BPH with your doctor.
Questions to ask your GP or Urologist
Helpful hints on how to start the conversation with your GP or
urologist, and other useful resources.
References
- American Urological Association Education Research, Inc. American Urological Association Guideline: Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Revised. 2010. Appendix 280, 283-5.
- McVary KT, Gange SN, Gittelman MC, et al. Erectile and ejaculatory function preserved with convective water vapor energy treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: Randomized controlled study. J Sex Med. 2016 Jun;13(6):924-33.
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