How are Doctors Diagnosing BPH?

Symptoms such as urgent or frequent urination; waking in the night to urinate; or struggling to start or stop urinary flow could indicate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). But how are doctors diagnosing BPH? Here's what you need to know.

Causes of an Enlarged Prostate

What is BPH? This is a condition in which prostate cells experience accelerated growth, leading to gland enlargement. Affecting approximately 50% of men over the age of 50, prostate enlargement can create on the urethra, triggering BPH symptoms that mostly affect the lower urinary tract. Now, this condition can develop in any individual with a prostate. But a new study just uncovered a a genetic link that increases BPH risk, helping clarify some of the underlying causes for this condition.

Diagnosing BPH

If you visit your doctor complaining of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) such as the ones highlighted above, the healthcare provider should begin the process of diagnosing BPH or ruling out other conditions such as infections or prostate cancer.

Your visit will probably start with the doctor asking about your current symptoms and taking a detailed medical history. A digital rectal exam may follow, allowing your doctor to detect prostate enlargement by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. Some men may undergo the uroflow test, measuring the speed of urinary flow with the use of a special toilet. You may also need an ultrasound to see if your bladder fully empties, and to get a better idea of the current size of your prostate. Additional testing may follow, including a blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, a urine test, a cystoscopy or a biopsy. The results of all these tests will help diagnose BPH; they may also point to alternative diagnoses, helping direct your treatment options.

Choosing Treatments for BPH

After diagnosing BPH, you can begin exploring treatment options. Some men may find symptom relief by improving their diets, managing their fluid intake, and removing triggers such as alcohol or caffeine. Medications may offer BPH relief, along with the added benefit of protection from Lewy body dementia , according to this study. However, for men who don't find sufficient symptom relief by choosing these treatment options, Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE), may be a better way forward. This is a minimally-invasive interventional radiology procedure; it shrinks the prostate with fewer side effects than surgery. To learn more about PAE and see if you're a candidate for this procedure, simply request a consultation at the Georgia Prostate Institute.