Benign prostatic hyperplasia: definition
In benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is important to understand what the prostate is. The prostate is a male gland located beneath the bladder. This gland is important because it secretes fluids that are part of the composition of semen. The prostate surrounds the urinary tube and surrounds the upper part of the urethra.
The prostate tends to enlarge as one approach forty years of age and continues to do so over time. We then speak of prostatic hyperplasia when the size of the prostate increases too much.
This pathology is common. Indeed, when one passes 60 years of age, approximately 6 out of 10 people suffer from prostatic hyperplasia. And, when one reaches 80 years of age, approximately 9 out of 10 people suffer from this pathology.
However, prostatic hyperplasia does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Prostatic hyperplasia is therefore an increase in the size of your prostate.
Prostatic hyperplasia: causes and prevention
Prostatic hyperplasia is principally due to age. However, researchers have put forward a second hypothesis: prostatic hypertrophy could be linked to a change in the production of male hormones such as testosterone. This hypothesis has not yet been confirmed.
Prostatic hyperplasia can be due to certain medications, so it is important to inform your doctor that you suffer from urinary disorders. Some medications can increase prostatic hypertrophy and thus cause urinary retention.
Although prostatic hyperplasia cannot be avoided, you can however prevent it. Several measures are important:
- Avoid holding back urination for too long.
- Engage in regular physical activity.
- Avoid foods that are too sweet, salty, or spicy.
- Finally, an Australian study has shown that maintaining a regular sexual activity would reduce prostatic hyperplasia.
Prostatic hyperplasia: symptoms
Generally, before 50, prostatic hyperplasia does not trigger any symptoms. After 50 years of age, if you suffer from prostatic hyperplasia, certain symptoms may appear.
The first symptoms occur when the prostatic hyperplasia is significant enough to interfere with the urethra and the bladder. As a result, the most common symptom is difficulty in urinating. Indeed, with the pressure exerted on the urethra, urinating can become painful and inconvenient.
Voiding (the act of urinating) can become more frequent, particularly at night. In addition, urgent voiding may also appear. Furthermore, the difficulty in urinating, or completely emptying the bladder, can lead to urinary infections as well as bladder stones. Finally, in case of urinary leakage and the presence of blood in the urine, it is important to consult a doctor.
Diagnosis of prostatic hyperplasia
If you have symptoms, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor. In case of regular symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia, your doctor will perform examinations.
The most common examination in case of difficulty urinating or pain remains the digital rectal examination. It is important that the doctor checks your prostate to diagnose a prostatic hyperplasia. The digital rectal examination consists of checking the prostate via the anus. In case of hyperplasia, the shape or hardness of the prostate does not change; only the volume will be greater.
In addition, you will need to perform a urinary analysis in a laboratory, as well as a complementary blood analysis. If these various analyses do not allow a diagnosis of potential prostatic hyperplasia to be established, the doctor may request a cystoscopy and/or an ultrasound.
What are the treatments for prostatic hyperplasia?
Treatments vary depending on the discomfort caused by prostatic hyperplasia. Several treatments are possible depending on the progression of the prostatic hyperplasia:
- In case of mild discomfort, when the bladder empties well, only regular monitoring is recommended.
- When the discomfort is moderate, medical treatment is prescribed by your doctor.
- If complications arise, or if the medical treatment does not work, surgical treatment will then be considered.
The most used surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate. This procedure consists of removing prostatic tissue through the urethra.