Physical Exam A digital rectal exam (DRE) is often the next step. During a DRE, you lie on your side or bend over. The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel the back wall of the prostate gland. The health care provider is looking for enlargement, tenderness, lumps or hard spots.
Other tests such as urine flow study, digital rectal exam, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, cystoscopy, ultrasound or prostate MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment for BPH may depend on the severity of the symptoms and range from no treatment to medication or surgery.
Because you're not emptying your bladder fully each time, you keep feeling the urge to use the bathroom, even in the middle of the night. To check your prostate, your doctor or urologist will check your prostate gland by inserting a lubricated, gloved finger and feeling for any growth.
Can an Enlarged Prostate Be Cured? For most patients, BPH (enlarged prostate) is curable. Some people see a significant reduction in symptoms with medication alone. If medicine does not work, or your prostate is too large, surgery will often remove enough of the prostate to provide you with relief.
As the prostate becomes more swollen, you may find it more difficult to urinate, and the urine stream may become weak. (If you can't urinate at all, it's a medical emergency; this usually means the prostate is so swollen that it's completely blocking urine flow.
One of our specialists will perform initial tests to diagnose an enlarged prostate. A urine test will rule out any infection or another issue. A PSA blood test looks for levels of a Protein Specific Antigen found only in the prostate gland. This protein should be at a low level for a healthy prostate.
BPH doesn't have a cure, but treatments can help alleviate your symptoms. Mild symptoms may not require treatment. Medications, surgery and minimally invasive treatments can treat more severe cases.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
TURP involves removing part of the prostate gland using a device called a resectoscope that's passed through the urethra (the tube through which urine passes out of the body). It's suitable for men who have an enlarged prostate.
Overall, drinking a lot of water is good for your full body health. Thus, drinking a lot of water is good for your prostate. Every organ in your body depends on proper hydration to function normally and efficiently.
Benign prostate enlargement (BPE), also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a condition that affects older men and anyone with a prostate. It's particularly common in men and anyone with a prostate over 50 years of age and isn't usually a serious threat to health.
Limit caffeine and alcohol as these may stimulate the urge to urinate. Eat a low-fat diet. Eat a large variety of vegetables each day. Eat a few servings of fruit daily, and be sure to include citrus fruits.
When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and it is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is a benign condition that does not lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.
Frequent urination is the need to pee more often than average (seven to eight times) throughout the day. It can happen to anyone, but it's more common in people over the age of 70, pregnant people and people with an enlarged prostate.
Common Symptoms Of BPH
A weak or interrupted urinary stream. Frequent urination sometimes several times an hour and during the night. The inability to completely empty the bladder.
Besides an at-home PSA blood test, there is no easy way to test yourself for prostate cancer at home. It's recommended to see a physician for a digital rectal exam, as they have experience feeling prostates for lumps or enlarged prostate.
Drink tea. Both green tea and hibiscus tea are among the top drinks for prostate health. Both types of tea contain potent antioxidants. Studies show that green tea can help prevent prostate cancer from forming and may also slow the growth of aggressive prostate cancer.
BPH isn't life-threatening, so you won't need treatment unless symptoms are bothering you.
If left untreated, the enlargement of your prostate gland leads to your urethra becoming blocked. Your symptoms will become more severe, and in time, you may develop serious conditions that require medical intervention, including: Complete blockage of the urethra. Damage to your kidneys.
If the prostate is very enlarged, it could press on the rectum, making it more difficult to empty. But generally, the prostate doesn't get that large. Difficulty with bowel movements may be a perception that is due to sharing muscles that provide control of emptying your bladder and rectum.