Enlarged Prostate

When the prostate becomes enlarged (benign prostatic hyperplasia), it can make urinating difficult or uncomfortable. 

These symptoms may vary from mild to severe and get worse over time. They can include:

• needing to urinate more often – especially during the night, which can disrupt your sleep

• a sudden and strong urge to urinate

• a weak urine flow – when you urinate, it might be a weak stream, or “stop-start” urine, which means it takes longer for you to empty your bladder completely. You may also feel like you need to urinate again straight after finishing

• finding it hard to start urinating – which can lead to straining

• finding it hard to urinate at all

The exact cause of an enlarged prostate isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought you may be more at risk if you:

• are older – as men age, the prostate gland naturally increases in size

• have hormonal changes – such as the balance between testosterone and oestrogen as you age

• have a family history of the condition

• take certain medicines – such as cold and allergy medications and tricyclic antidepressants, sometimes used to treat depression

• have had bladder or kidney stones

• have chronic inflammation – inflammation in the body can lead to increased cell growth and prostate enlargement

• are obese

• aren’t physically active

• eat a diet high in fat and red meat

Your specialist can diagnose an enlarged prostate by asking you about your medical history, your symptoms, and by checking your prostate in a digital rectal exam.

They may also need to run more diagnostic tests, which include:

• a prostate symptoms questionnaire and a bladder diary

• an ultrasound of the urinary tract

• a PSA test or other blood and urine tests

• urinary flow tests

• a prostate biopsy

• a cystoscopy

• an MRI scan

It isn’t always possible to avoid an enlarged prostate, but certain lifestyle changes may help reduce your risk, such as:

• exercising for at least 30 minutes every day

• maintaining normal cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels

• cutting down on alcohol

• keeping to a healthy weight

If left untreated, an enlarged prostate may lead to more serious health conditions and complications, which can include:

• urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• acute urinary retention – this is a medical emergency that needs urgent treatment

• bladder stones – they can cause pain, and frequent UTIs

• kidney damage – this can lead to kidney stones, kidney infections, or even kidney failure

• bladder diverticula – when small pouches form in the bladder wall, which can increase the risk of infections

There are many different ways to treat an enlarged prostate, which can vary depending on how severe your symptoms are. These include:

• watchful waiting – regular monitoring instead of direct intervention, if your symptoms are mild

• lifestyle changes – such as adjusting your fluid intake, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, keeping to a healthy weight, and exercising regularly

• medications – such as alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors or combination therapy

• minimally invasive treatments – such as prostatic urethral lift, water vapour ablation of the prostate or iTIND

• surgical approaches – such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), laser therapy or aquablation of the prostate

At Welbeck, our men’s health specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.