Muscles, house, salary, penis. What do all these words have in common? By New York Times Connections or Family Feud rules, one could categorize them as “things that men wish were bigger.” However, what is one word you would not find in the mix? Prostate. Yes, you read that correctly. Unbeknownst to most, much like your nose and ears, your prostate tends to grow as you age. While the growth of the prostate is normal, sometimes it can grow too big, leading to benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Today, Popstar provides the tips (and so much more than just the tip) on prostate enlargement and BPH.
What is BPH?
BPH is characterized as a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is a very prevalent issue among aging men. Something to look forward to, he says sarcastically! So you have a large prostate, so what? It isn’t cancer, who cares? While BPH isn’t cancerous, there can still be cause for concern. An enlarged prostate can lead to the compression of the urethra, which can cause bothersome urinary symptoms.
While the exact causes for BPH remain unclear, it is speculated that age related hormone changes play a significant role. Lifestyle factors such as obesity, genetics, and certain prolonged medication use may play a role in the plumping of your prostate as well.
Symptoms
When it comes to BPH, the proof is in the pee. Common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include frequent urination or urgency to urinate. People suffering from BPH tend to have weak streams or even have a hard time getting the stream going, like there’s a kink in their hose. Other urine related symptoms include incomplete bladder emptying and nocturia, which is a fancy-schmancy term for frequently having to get up in the middle of the night to pee. All pee-pee jokes aside, BPH can greatly impact and disrupt a person’s daily activities and sleep schedule so it may be worth nipping in the bud.
Treatment
When it comes to benign prostatic hyperplasia, treatment varies depending on the severity of the symptoms. In mild cases, BPH just requires monitoring. For more bothersome symptoms medications can be prescribed with the intent to relax and reduce the size of the prostate gland. While these medications may be successful in alleviating urine related symptoms, some side effects like dizziness and sexual dysfunction may occur.
In more severe and persistent cases, minimally invasive procedures can be performed in an attempt to reduce prostate size and relieve urinary obstruction. Possibly the most common procedure is a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). A TURP involves partial removal of the prostate gland in order to relieve symptoms. But don’t worry: this procedure is done through a scope so no cutting is necessary. Other surgical options include laser therapies, vaporization, and even prostate artery embolization. I know, sounds pretty futuristic!
Lifestyle Changes
There are also lifestyle changes that can be made to minimize the effects of BPH. While staying hydrated is always a great idea, limiting fluid intake before bed is one way to ensure that you get a good night of sleep. Believe it or not, kicking your kegels into high gear can help combat BPH. Having a strong pelvic floor is not only important in sexual function, but managing symptoms of BPH as well! Here at Popstar, we can’t get enough of kegels. To learn more about kegels and strengthen your pelvic floor, click here.
Regular doctor visits are always recommended, but especially when it comes to keeping your finger on the pulse of your pelvis and prostate! Routine checkups can ensure that the only thing that is big about you are (hopefully) your muscles, house, salary, TV, and penis! Let’s do everything we can to keep our dreams big and our prostates small! Or at least normal size.
Dr. Joshua Gonzalez
Dr. Joshua Gonzalez is a board-certified urologist who is fellowship-trained in Sexual Medicine and specializes in the management of male and female sexual dysfunctions. He completed his medical education at Columbia University and his urological residency at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Throughout his career, Dr. Gonzalez has focused on advocating for sexual health and providing improved healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community.
