Page 2 - Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Medication therapy
The use of medication to treat BPH has become
popular and is often chosen as the first treatment to
try. There are two main types of drugs used to treat
BPH and they work in different ways. Sometimes, both
medications are taken together.
Alpha blockers (e.g. Flomax , Xatral , Rapaflo )
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relax the muscle in and around the prostate and
bladder opening to improve urination. Benefit is
usually noticed within a few days or weeks and will
only last as long as the medication is taken. Side
effects occur infrequently and include tiredness, nasal
congestion, dizziness and dry orgasm. Some of these
side effects go away after a few weeks of taking the
medication. These side effects are reversible and will
go away once you stop the medication. If you are
bothered by these side effects, stop the medication
and contact your doctor.
5 alpha reductase inhibitors (Proscar , Avodart )
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block the hormones that stimulate the prostate
to grow. They are most useful in men with larger
prostates. Because it takes some time to shrink the
prostate, improvement in urination may not be
noticed for several months. If the medication is
stopped, the BPH will recur. Side effects occur in
less than 10% of men and include a decrease in
semen volume, loss of normal sexual desire (libido)
and difficulties with erections. This medication is
often taken together with an alpha blocker. The
combination of these drugs may prevent your
symptoms of BPH from getting worse.
Herbal therapies are widely advertised for BPH
symptoms and are taken by many men. There is
controversy regarding how effective these therapies
are for BPH. However, most of them have few side
effects. You should let your doctor know if you are
taking herbal treatments.
This publication is produced by
The information in the publication is not intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for direct consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner. The Canadian Urological Association disclaims all liability and legal responsibility howsoever caused, including negligence, for the
information contained in or referenced by this brochure.
© 2014. Canadian Urological Association. All rights reserved.
Surgical therapy
Surgery will be recommended to you if your BPH is
causing ongoing urinary retention, kidney problems,
recurring infections, or if you are not improving
with medical therapy. However, it is also an initial
treatment option if your symptoms are quite severe
or bothersome. As with any procedure, there are
potential complications that must be discussed by
your doctor before any decision for surgery is made.
There are two main procedures for treating BPH.
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a
common operation done for BPH. It is performed
by a urologist, who passes an instrument, under an
anesthetic, through the urethra and cores out the
prostate. This makes the passage for urine wider.
This procedure can be performed with a variety of
techniques including using a laser. These techniques
may not be available at all centres or hospitals.
Open Prostatectomy is the removal of the inner
part of the prostate through an incision in the lower
abdomen. It is usually only used for prostates that are
too large to remove safely with a TURP. This procedure
is quite different from the “radical prostatectomy”
done for prostate cancer, where the entire prostate
is removed and the two procedures should not be
confused.
BPH is a common consequence of men growing
older. It can cause inconvenient urinary symptoms
and can occasionally affect your health. If symptoms
are bothersome, then effective treatment is available.
You should discuss these options with your doctor prior
to deciding which treatment is best for you.
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