An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, is the non-cancerous growth of the prostate that often occurs as men age.
About 40 to 50 percent of men with an enlarged prostate develop symptoms. The most common symptom is difficulty urinating. The condition can also cause frequent nighttime urination. An enlarged prostate has not been thought to interfere with sexual function, but new data suggest that the incidence of erectile dysfunction is higher in men who have an enlarged prostate with symptoms.

Both the overgrowth of prostate tissue and an overactivity of smooth muscle in the prostate cause symptoms.

What are the symptoms

The common symptoms of an enlarged prostate are classified as obstructive or irritative. Obstructive symptoms are caused when the enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and squeezes the urethra.

Obstructive symptoms include:

• Difficulty urinating;
• A weak urinary stream;
• Incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Having to urinate again shortly after urination;
• Stopping and starting during urination; and
• Significant dribbling after urination.

Irritative symptoms result from the enlarged prostate pressing on the bladder, causing the bladder to contract more frequently and to eventually weaken. An irritated bladder causes urine to be released more frequently. Irritative symptoms are also associated with other conditions of the urinary tract, including infections and bladder cancer.

Irritative symptoms include:

• Frequent urination;
• Urgent need to urinate; and
• Getting out of bed at night to urinate.

Blood in the urine, known as hematuria, may also be a symptom of enlarged prostate. The blood can be microscopic or easily visible, which is called gross hematuria.

Treatment options

Treatment options for BPH include drug therapies, surgery or minimally invasive therapies such as Transurethral Needle Ablation Therapy and Photoselective Vaporization of the prostate.

PVP (Photoselective Vaporization of the prostate) is the newest and most exciting treatment for BPH of the prostate utilizing the GreenLight Laser. "This is a phenomenal procedure I have been waiting for to treat BPH."

Benefits of laser surgery.

Rather than using a scalpel, a surgeon uses a laser to vaporize excess prostatic tissue. There are two types of laser procedures currently in use. The first is known as interstitial laser coagulation therapy, which requires anesthesia and can be done in an office setting. During the procedure, a fiber optic device is inserted through a cystoscope through the urethra into the prostate. The laser energy heats the prostate, destroying parts of the oversized prostate. The body naturally absorbs the destroyed tissue. A catheter is left in place afterwards for a few days.

This form of laser surgery is thought to be less effective on larger prostates, and its long-term effectiveness is still unknown.

The second type of laser procedure is photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). PVP uses a laser fiber, which vaporizes and coagulates tissue creating an open cavity within the prostate. PVP is phenomenal because of minimal bleeding compared to conventional TURP.

There are few complications and the procedure can be performed as an outpatient. It is effective in large and small prostates. Another advantage is that patients can remain on anticoagulates and still undergo this procedure.