At the Forefront - UChicago Medicine

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Caring for an Enlarged Prostate

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to a non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland that happens to most men as they grow older. This enlargement may lead to a variety of urinary symptoms including a weak urinary stream, difficulty starting the stream, frequent urination, urgent urination and arising from sleep to urinate. In more serious situations, BPH can cause a complete inability to urinate, infection, bladder stones or failure of the bladder or kidneys to function properly. It is very important for all men over the age of 50 to have their prostate checked at least once per year to make sure there are no signs of cancer. Once it has been established that cancer is not present, a variety of approaches may be used to try to relieve the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.

In most cases, the primary goal of treatment of BPH is improvement in the quality of life of the patient. Therefore, it is most commonly up to the patient how they would like to proceed when it comes to treatment. For many men, no treatment of BPH may be appropriate. For others, simply altering fluid intake and other behavioral changes may be all that is needed. For those men with more severe symptoms, a variety of medications are available to treat an enlarged prostate.

In addition, several natural remedies, such as saw palmetto, may be tried once it is clear that there are no signs of cancer and infection. At the University of Chicago Medicine, we have conducted several widely recognized studies using saw palmetto and other natural remedies for BPH. These have generally demonstrated mild to moderate improvement in symptoms without any apparent side effects.

For those patients who do not respond to medication, several procedures are available to treat an enlarged prostate. These include the traditional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), laser procedures, microwave procedures, as well as several others. Our urology specialists continue to explore new and better ways to treat men with BPH, with an emphasis on tailoring therapy to the individual patient's needs and desires.

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You can also make an appointment with our providers by:

– Scheduling a virtual video visit to see a provider from the comfort of your home

– Requesting an online second opinion from our specialists 

To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

 
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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
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By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.