Hyperplasia (BPH) treatments
Surgical and non-surgical treatment options at The Prostate Centre
What is BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that affects nearly half of all men over the age of 65. It's characterised by the benign (non-cancerous) overgrowth of prostate cells, leading to the enlargement of the central portion of the prostate. This means the part of the urethra surrounded by the prostate can become constricted which, in turn, can result in reduced urinary flow.
Those affected find their urine stream becomes weaker, emptying the bladder becomes more difficult and they often need to pass urine more often including at night – symptoms that can significantly impair their quality of life.
What are the consequences of not treating BPH?
As the obstruction increases, the muscular bladder wall thickens and becomes stronger. To overcome the effect of the obstruction, the pressure inside the bladder needed to produce urinary flow increases, which can cause pouches or ‘diverticula’ to form.
The raised pressure can also result in what’s known as “back pressure” on the kidneys, leading to kidney problems, although this is less common.
If BPH isn’t treated, either chronic urinary retention (characterised by a massively over-distended bladder) or acute urinary retention (the sudden inability to pass any urine, with painful overdistension of the bladder) may develop. In either situation, hospital admission, catheterisation and, often, prostate surgery are usually required.
What are my treatment options for BPH?
BPH is most commonly treated with either drugs or surgery. Patients with mild symptoms may opt for active surveillance, which involves monitoring their condition. This means that, should the condition worsen, we can spot it quickly and treat it effectively.
There are also several ‘minimally invasive’ alternatives.
If your symptoms are moderate, we may recommend drug treatment rather than surgery.
In fact, this can be a beneficial approach for some patients with severe symptoms. Sometimes, however, certain complications, including kidney problems, urinary retention or bladder stones, can make surgery a more appropriate option.
If you do require surgery, rest assured that our consultants specialise in a wide range of treatment options. The procedures we offer include:
- Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). Download a Guide to HoLEP
- Aquablation
- PVP Greenlight laser. Download a Guide to Greenlight Laser
- REZUM
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Download a Guide to TURP
- Urolift
contact us
You can book a consultation, often in as little as 24 hours, via our online contact form, or, if you’d prefer to speak to someone, you can also book by phone.