The prostate is an accessory sex gland located on the underside of the bladder, posterior to the pubis and anterior to the rectum. From the age of 50 years, sometimes earlier, the prostate undergoes a benign growth known as benign hypertrophy.
Benign hypertrophy consists of a hyperplasia of the fibromuscular and glandular tissue of the prostate.
Since there is no conclusive data to show what types of dietary or lifestyle habits may influence its occurrence, there are currently no recommendations to avoid prostatic hyperplasia.
Symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy
The set of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy is known as prostatism. This concept encompasses both irritative and obstructive symptomatology.
The most frequent irritative symptomatology is:
- Frequent daytime urination (diurnal pollakiuria)
- Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
- Compelling urge to urinate (urgency)
- Hypogastric discomfort
The most frequent obstructive symptomatology is:
- Delayed onset of urination.
- Decrease in the caliber and strength of the stream.
- Intermittent urination
- Urinary retention
- Overflow incontinence
Risk factors for benign prostatic hypertrophy
Although it can occur earlier, benign prostatic hypertrophy usually appears in men after the age of 50. The symptoms usually develop in different ways in each patient, so it is difficult to know how it will evolve in each man.
There are indications that a man over 60 years of age and with symptoms of prostatism has a higher risk of requiring prostate surgery within 10 years than without symptoms.
Consequences of benign prostatic hypertrophy
According to specialists in Urology, benign prostatic hypertrophy causes a worsening in the patient’s quality of life. The evolution over the years of benign prostatic growth can lead to chronic retention of urine in the bladder, to the formation of bladder stones, and even to urethral and renal dilatation, which can lead to renal failure.
Treatments for benign prostatic hypertrophy
There is currently no consensus on the indication for treatment. The therapeutic possibilities are multiple and range from pharmacological treatment to traditional surgery, including multiple minimally invasive alternatives.
It is the urologist who has to assess which medical indication is most appropriate for the treatment of each patient.
When medical treatment fails or there are additional problems, surgical treatment is summarized in transurethral resection with mono or bipolar energy, cervicotomy, prostatic vaporization, and adenomectomy with holmium laser or conventional surgery.
Depending on the prostate volume and the technology available to the urologist, any of these possibilities may be the ideal treatment for the patient.