There are multiple treatment options for BPH, and when selecting a method, it is important for men to deliberate on the pros and cons of each. The option of prostate surgery has widely been considered the most effective method of treating BPH, but it is also the treatment option involving the greatest number of risks.
Treatment of BPH through medication is suitable for men who display major symptoms. Medicines for the treatment of BPH include alpha-blockers, which work to relax the prostate muscles and the bladder neck, consequently relaxing the urinary obstruction which occurs owing to an enlarged prostate in BPH.
Side effects of such medication include fatigue, headaches, lightheadedness, or difficulty with ejaculation. The most common types of alpha-blockers used for treating BPH include alfuzosin (Uroxatral), tamsulosin (Flomax), and medication that is older including silodosin (Rapaflo), terazosin (Hytrin), or doxazosin (Cardura).
The enlargement of the prostate in BPH is directly linked to DHT, so these medicines and help decrease the prostate size by 25% over 6-12 months. As a result, it takes this long to see betterment in urinary symptoms of BPH.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is another procedure that has long been used for the treatment of BPH. Following the administration of anesthesia, a specialized instrument is inserted into the urethra via the penis. The instrument is then used to cut away parts of the inner prostate, thereby allowing for easier, unobstructed flow of urine from the bladder.
Laser treatment: There are many laser procedures available, and some of these can be administered in a doctor’s office with little to no anesthesia required. They focus on removing the tissue in the prostate that is causing obstructions. In these procedures, there is generally less bleeding involved and the recovery time is shorter than that for TURP.
Microwave therapy:
This type of therapy is usually delivered in the doctor’s office and is centered on using microwave energy to kill some cells in the prostate, which leads to its gradual shrinking.