What are the treatment options for an enlarged prostate?

• Make a few lifestyle changes. Avoid drinking any beverages at least an hour before bedtime to lessen the chance of nighttime bathroom visits. Also go easy on caffeine and alcohol. Both can aggravate your need to urinate.
• Check your meds. If you take a diuretic for high blood pressure or kidney disease, ask your doctor if you can take a lower dose, since the diuretic can also cause frequent urination. Over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines can also contribute to enlarged prostate symptoms.
• Ask about prescription drugs to treat an enlarged prostate. Alpha-blocker drugs relax prostate muscles, making it easier to urinate, and enzyme inhibitors help shrink the size of the prostate gland. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, using a combination of the two types of drugs may work better than either drug independently to halt the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Consider surgery to treat an enlarged prostate. When lifestyle measures and medication aren't enough, there are surgical treatment options. Minimally invasive procedures include the following: use of an electrical current to vaporize tissue (transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate, or TUVP); heating tissue directly with needles (transurethral needle ablation of the prostate, or TUNA); heating tissue indirectly with microwave energy (transurethral microwave therapy, or TUMT); using a laser or focused ultrasound to destroy tissue; and using a stent to keep the urethra open.

Traditional surgical techniques include cutting away prostate tissue, making incisions in the bladder neck to relieve pressure in the gland, or completely removing the tissue (open surgery).

Drug and surgical treatments for enlarged prostate come with potential side effects, including a small risk for erectile dysfunction. Be sure to discuss possible side effects with your doctor as you weigh the benefits of different BPH treatments.

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