Diagnosis Of Enlarged Prostate Or BPH

A Diagnosis of BPH

First of all, males as well as females must know what is an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Awareness is the first step to make sure that everyone at risk of developing this condition manages it well. Suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia does not mean you are suffering from cancer. The word “benign” means just that — non-cancerous. Through the years of treatment and diagnosis, medical experts have categorized the physical condition as LUTS or Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, because it is also possible for a guy to experience the symptoms of BPH even when the prostate is not enlarged.

The Prostate as a Gland

This gland is only present in males. It is located in the body’s urinary system or urinary tract, specifically around the urethra where urine is expelled from the body. The risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate increases as men age, especially from 50 and up. This is one of the main reasons why urine is blocked, causing painful and/or difficult urination.

If the person does not have abnormal prostate size, then another possible reason for difficulty in urination could be a deficiency in elasticity of the bladder muscle groups.

Symptoms are categorized into three levels: mild, moderate, and severe.

BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia is not a fatal physical condition. But the effects or symptoms of an enlarged prostate are so uncomfortable that they can hinder the patient from doing simple daily tasks. Medical experts or doctors must treat this condition in order keep it from worsening and escalating into urinary tract infections, possibly damaging the bladder and kidney.

More than half of males ages 50 and up experience BPH. The good news is that most of these conditions, may not need the attention of a medical specialist. A regular doctor can help minimize the symptoms or even eliminate BPH early on. Sadly, most men who have BPH choose to leave the condition untreated, leading to further organ damage.

Factors in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Science views the main reason for the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia as aging. Next to that is the increased production of hormones namely, dihydrotestosterone and testosterone. These 5a-reductase hormones increase and infest the prostate gland, causing the gland to be inflamed or increase in size. One thing noted by the experts is that the chances of developing BPH in men who have their testicles removed early on is ZERO. This means that the testicles can also be considered as a factor for this condition.

The environment and common food also affect the development of BPH. Studies of Asians show a lesser rate of BPH. However, those Asians who migrated to North America developed BPH at the same rates as natives and/or the Caucasians of the region. In contrast, Africans and/or African Americans have a higher threshold for the age in developing BPH — at least 60 and up compared to 50 and up for others.

Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The most common symptom present in BPH is difficulty in urinating, which can range from mild to severe. The difficulty can either be in initiating urination or in the actual process of stopping it. The frequency for urination is also considered a symptom, if the person is observed urinating more often, even if the bladder is not yet really full.

The Actual Diagnosis

The ISPS or the International Prostate Symptom Scale is used to help in the diagnosis. If there is any problem with the prostate that must be addressed, this chart will help the doctor see the severity of the prostate condition. The ISPS works in conjunction with the person’s complete medical history to study whether a possibility of prostate enlargement is present. The next steps are diagnostic procedures, which range from several physical tests (including a rectal examination) to laboratory tests (including a blood and urine test). If a even a slight risk of cancer is seen, the doctor will perform more tests to confirm suspicions.

Other tests like sediment analysis to microscopic process and other urinalysis may be performed in order to rule out or see if there is a urinary tract infection. While an ultrasound is necessary, a urine flow measurement, and catheterization are also required for urgent or severe cases of prostate enlargement. Doctors may also request a PSA or prostate antigen tests.

Based on the looks of it, BPH is something quite inevitable as men age, but it can also be avoided with proper body care. Studies show that going for the right diet (healthy and beneficial choice of foods) and daily exercises can reduce the risk of developing prostate conditions, especially BPH. This is based on the fact that fats are reduced or eliminated around the prostate area, one of the factors in the development of BPH.

Nevertheless, it is better for a person to have himself checked if he feels the slightest symptoms of BPH. If the symptoms do not exist or if you have family members who have had conditions such BPH or prostate cancer, go through the series of medical checkups on or before age 50 to ensure that the bladder and prostate are working the way they should.

Surgical Procedures For Enlarged Prostate

Surgery for an Enlarged Prostate

Science knows a few reasons why people experience some problems with their prostate or some symptoms of BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia that require surgical procedures. Some of them are:

The patient cannot urinate. At least half of males not physically well enough to urinate require catheterization. In catheterization, a tube is inserted into the urethra down to the bladder in order to flush out urine. The other half of males experiencing trouble will require some invasive surgical procedure.
There can be a blockage to the urethra, which may also cause urinary tract infection, stones in the bladder, and damage to the bladder.
There is blood in the urine, and it does not improve through simple medications.
The kidney is damaged.

Sometimes, although the BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperlasia symptoms are absent, the doctor may still order surgical procedures in order to eliminate uncomfortable effects, or if other treatments failed to resolve the problem.

In such a case, consider the following:

Will the procedure(s) really help in minimizing the effects of prostate problems, or completely resolve the problem?
How extent is the prostate enlargement or any other prostate problem?
What are the post surgery effects or complications?

The most common surgical procedures administered for BPH are usually less invasive, such as when tools designed specially to penetrate the urethra down to the prostate are used, also known as “transurethral surgical procedures”.

Transurethral Resection

The most widely used surgical procedure is called “transurethral resection” or TURP when part of the prostate is removed.
Other surgical procedures being administered to treat prostate problems are rarely used compared to TURP such as:

The TUIP or Transurethral Incision of the Prostate where the prostrate is cut to minimize or release the pressure to the urethra.
The Transurethral Laser Vaporization or Transurethral Laser Coagulation where a laser technology cuts the prostate to relieve pressure in the urethra.
The TUMT or Transurethral Microwave Therapy where a microwave kills tissues in the prostate and some surrounding areas.
The TUNA or Transurethral Needle Ablation where a warm or hot needle kills the tissues in the prostate or some surrounding area.

These surgical procedures are very recent, and their effectiveness has not yet been established.

The open prostatectomy is a more common type of procedure where the surgeon accesses the prostate through a surgical cut in order to minimize and/or eliminate BPH Benign Prostatic Hyperlasia and its uncomfortable effects.

This particular procedure is commonly used for patients with severe cases.

Things that Need to be Considered

While there are many ways to resolve prostate enlargement and other prostate problems, the existing surgical procedures still provide the highest rates of success. Yet even these cannot guarantee 100% success since there is still the possibility of persistent symptoms.

Also, surgical procedures can cause post-surgical effects such as: incontinence, impotence, and retrograde ejaculation (where semen goes straight to the bladder rather than the penis.) At least, most of the time, the patients who have undergone surgical procedures experience relief.

If the physical condition of the prostate calls for a surgical procedure, the patient must consider which procedure to undergo, depending on the extent of the prostate enlargement. Doctors commonly recommend TURP and TUIP under such conditions. TURP is recommended for patients with a higher level of prostate enlargement, while TUIP is for those patients who have minor prostate conditions. The procedures are performed differently; both of them give the same relief for patients.

7 Symptoms Requiring Immediate Treatment

Seven Enlarged Prostate Symptoms that Demand Immediate Attention

Most men will have to deal with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) related issues as they age. The symptoms of an enlarged prostate typically manifest in men who are over 50 years old. By the time most men turn 60 they will have experienced some prostate issues. By the time most men turn 80, about 90% of all men will be dealing with an enlarged prostate.

For the most part, the symptoms of BPH will not be severe. This is a time when many guys begin to notice several symptoms of a variety of medical issues, so enlarged prostate symptoms can often be ignored and cast off as something that cannot be avoided as they age. This is usually not a problem because the majority of symptoms of an enlarged prostate are mild. If they are not bothering you extensively, you can get by without treating them.

But, in some instances, prostate cancer is an issue and, if it is not treated, it will get into other parts of the body and will lead to your death. Prostate cancer is the 2^nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. right now.

View our top 5 Effective BPH solutions –>>

What to Look For

A variety of prostate symptoms could be a sign of worse conditions, but, as is the case with almost all medical conditions, these symptoms can be related to all kinds of conditions, some mild and some severe. If the symptoms go away quickly, they are probably not related to an enlarged prostate, but were probably related to an infection. But if the symptoms do not go away, or come back frequently, you are probably dealing with an enlarged prostate.

Here are seven of the BPH symptoms that cannot be ignored.

1. Problems with the ability to urinate

2. A weakened urine stream

3. The stopping and starting of urine flow

4. The inability to completely empty the bladder or the feeling that you need to go again even if you have just gone

5. The need to urinate urgently

6. Frequent urination, especially at night

7. The inability to stop the flow of urine when you are finished urinating

These seven signs are indications that an enlarged prostate is beginning to occur or is already present. In most instances, these are nothing to worry about, but they can also indicate that prostate cancer could be present.

You cannot tell on your own whether or not you simply have a Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or if you have prostate cancer. You need to be mindful of these symptoms, do not allow them to get out of control, and get yourself checked out by a physician as soon as you can. By not waiting, you can get treatment for either condition. Ignoring the symptoms will not make them go away, and can in fact, make things worse, especially if they are due to the presence of cancer. It is important to seek treatment right away to keep it from spreading and to alleviate your discomfort.

View our top 5 Effective BPH solutions –>>

The Diagnostic For Enlarged Prostate

How to Diagnose an Enlarged Prostrate

It is always best to visit or consult a doctor if you are feeling or observing some physical symptoms of prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH. The doctor ensures a correct diagnosis in order to provide the right treatment and management. This is only possible if all other possible conditions are ruled out and determined absent.

The doctor examines the current physical state of the patient along with his or her medical record (medical history), and administers a series of diagnostic tests, like blood and urine examinations. These steps enable the doctor to glimpse what is happening from the inside. Sometimes, neurological tests are necessary in order to exclude other problems, such as the nerves in the bladder or prostate area.

To monitor the condition more closely, the doctor may ask the patient to complete an AUA or American Urological Association symptom index. This chart-like item helps the doctor see if the symptom is already affecting your daily activities, but it is not considered and should not be regarded as a form of final diagnosis.

The Usual Diagnostic Examinations for Prostate Enlargement

The doctor initially requires a digital rectal examination whenever the symptoms of enlarged prostate or BPH are present or observed. This determines the current state of the prostate including its size and texture. The actual size of the prostate may not be a determining factor because it can be larger than normal and still not do anything unusual to the body.
The secondary diagnostic test is usually the urine culture or urinalysis that lets the doctor determine if there is an existing infection to the prostate that may be causing the symptoms.
The creatinine blood examination is the third level of diagnostic. It examines the kidney to see whether it is functioning well.
The last examination is the PSA or Prostate-Specific Antigen. This determines or rules out the presence of cancer in the prostate. This is important since the symptoms of simple BPH or enlarged prostate are similar to prostate cancer.

Possible Diagnostic Procedures the Doctor Will Perform

The doctor, depending on the condition’s urgency may go for PVR or a Post-Void Residual Urine examination to see the amount of urine in the bladder after urinating. The usual tools to perform a PVR are ultrasound and a catheter inserted through the urethra to the bladder.
The doctor may also be request a Pressure Flow Test to see and measure pressure in the bladder while urinating. This helps the doctor see something blocking the passage that may cause symptoms, while also determining or ruling out the possibility of neurological problems.
Cystometrogram is another diagnostic procedure that measures the capacity of the bladder to store fluid or urine. This examination comes with an Auroflometry test, which measures the speed of the flow of the urine while in the process of urination.
The doctor will often request an ultrasound to see if the prostate is enlarged or not as healthy as the kidney. This ultrasound is performed by inserting a transducer into the rectum.
Another test, Cystoscopy, is used in order to see the internal condition of the bladder and the urethra and to rule out the possibility of prostate blocking (due to enlargement).
IVP or an Intravenous Pyelogram may help the doctor see if the kidney is functioning well. This determines whether the urine is properly flowing from the kidney to the bladder.
The CT Scan or Spiral / Helical Computed Tomography is the final test, which somehow seals everything since it gives the detailed physical condition of the kidney, the prostate, or any internal organs of the body. This type of x-ray makes it easy for doctors to see if there is something physically wrong with the kidney or prostate.

Screening for an Enlarged Prostate

There are currently no tests available that directly screen for prostate enlargement. Although several examinations or screenings can help the doctor determine whether there is an existing problem in the prostate, these tests are usually done for prostate and rectum cancer.

The physiology of the prostate deteriorates as a person ages, but this also depends on how much care was given to the body during the younger years. That is why most doctors suggest a PSA or digital rectal examination. The PSA is administered to men in their 50s and up to physically monitor the condition of the prostate. This can help avoid possible cancer or determine the right treatment when a prostate problem already exists. But some doctors disagree, saying that these diagnostics can not guarantee the elimination and possibility of prostate problems such as cancer.

The patient’s screening needs ultimately may depend on the symptoms and the actual physical needs.

If you have felt or are feeling some symptoms, never self medicate or assume your current physical condition. Some people simply ignore these symptoms until everything is worsens. Prevention is definitely better than the cure, and simple preventive examinations can save time, money, and life in the future. Always consult a doctor and submit to several diagnostic procedures in order to determine the right and possibly the best treatment to treat BPH or any similar problems with their prostate. Keep in mind that self-medicating may only worsen the condition.