Sometimes the symptoms of BPH remain at tolerable
levels for an indefinite period of time. Your doctor
may recommend a period of watchful waiting. If you
are comfortable with this approach, your doctor
will evaluate your symptoms initially and then recheck
them on a regular basis.
This follow-up strategy allows you to see if
your symptoms are worsening over time, and it
enables your doctor to identify any changes that
might indicate the need for further therapy.
While it is rare, some men who choose watchful
waiting become unable to urinate before their
next evaluation, while others may develop infections
or bleeding. Therefore, it is important to stay
in close contact with your doctor and report any
changes you may experience, even though your next
appointment may be a long way off.
Drug Therapy
As with other modes of therapy for BPH, there
are several choices available if you and your
doctor decide drug therapy is the best course
of action. Your doctor can tell you the potential
benefits and side effects associated with each
of these options.
Non-Surgical Invasive
Procedures
If your BPH symptoms are relatively severe, your
doctor may recommend a more aggressive approach
to treatment. There are several non-surgical invasive
procedures that may provide an effective alternative
to major surgery. They include prostatic stents,
thermotherapy, and transurethral needle ablation
(TUNA). Your doctor can explain why a certain
procedure may or may not be right for you.
Surgery has been used for many years to treat
severe cases of BPH. Candidates for surgery may
have one or more of the following problems: Acute
Urinary Retention (AUR) - total inability to urinate;
backup of urine into the kidneys leading to kidney
damage; frequent urinary tract infections; major
bleeding through the penis caused by BPH; and/or
stones in the urinary bladder.
Even if you do not have these serious problems
but are experiencing a high degree of discomfort
from BPH, you and your doctor might decide to
consider one of four basic types of surgery: transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral
incision of the prostate (TUIP), open prostatectomy,
and laser prostatectomy.
