BPH
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that is common in men over 50. This section explains what BPH is, how it is diagnosed, and which treatments are available.
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Surgical treatments
When medicines and minimally invasive options are not enough, surgery can give lasting relief. The main choices remove or reshape obstructing tissue through the urethra, or through a small cut for very large glands. This article describes the main surgical options.
Life after treatment
The first few weeks after BPH treatment have a few surprises. Stream changes, dry ejaculation, and a small risk of temporary leaks are common. This article walks through what recovery usually looks like, what is normal, and what should prompt a call back to your team.
BPH frequently asked questions
BPH raises the same questions in every waiting room. Is it cancer? Do I need surgery? Will my sex life change? This article answers nine common questions in plain language, and it points to longer articles on this site when you want more. Save it for later visits.
Understanding the prostate and BPH
The prostate is a small gland that sits below the bladder in men. As the years pass, it tends to grow. When this growth is not cancer, clinicians call it benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. This article explains what BPH is and is not.
Recognising symptoms — LUTS
Many older men notice changes in how they pass urine. A weak stream, a sudden urge, getting up at night — clinicians group these as lower urinary tract symptoms, or LUTS. This article explains the symptom types, how common they are, and when to see someone.
Getting diagnosed
When you see a clinician about urinary symptoms, the visit is usually straightforward. You talk, answer an IPSS, leave a urine sample, and may have a simple exam. This article walks through what a first BPH visit usually looks like, and why each step matters.
Lifestyle and watchful waiting
Many men with mild BPH do well without medicines. Small changes to fluid timing, caffeine, alcohol, and activity can soften daily symptoms. This article explains watchful waiting, what to try in the meantime, and when to move on to a medicine or a referral.
Medical therapy
When lifestyle changes are not enough, BPH medicines are the usual next step. Some relax the bladder outlet; others shrink the prostate over months. This article explains the main drug classes, what they do, and the side effects worth knowing before you start one.
Minimally invasive treatments
Between medicines and full surgery, several minimally invasive treatments can ease BPH symptoms with a shorter recovery. Each has a different mechanism, and each has trade-offs around sexual function. This article covers the main options, what they suit, and what they do not.
Surgical treatments
When medicines and minimally invasive options are not enough, surgery can give lasting relief. The main choices remove or reshape obstructing tissue through the urethra, or through a small cut for very large glands. This article describes the main surgical options.
Life after treatment
The first few weeks after BPH treatment have a few surprises. Stream changes, dry ejaculation, and a small risk of temporary leaks are common. This article walks through what recovery usually looks like, what is normal, and what should prompt a call back to your team.
BPH frequently asked questions
BPH raises the same questions in every waiting room. Is it cancer? Do I need surgery? Will my sex life change? This article answers nine common questions in plain language, and it points to longer articles on this site when you want more. Save it for later visits.