The Prostate & BPH
Common. Treatable. Take Action.

Like clamping a garden hose.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that plays a role in the male reproductive system. After age 25, the prostate begins to grow and continues to grow throughout a man’s life.2 As it grows, the prostate squeezes down on the tube that carries urine out of the body and interferes with urination, much like a clamp on a garden hose. Without treatment, other, more serious complications may follow — such as bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, even loss of control over urination (incontinence).2

You’re not the only one.

More than half of men in their 60s and up to 90% of men in their 70s and 80s have symptoms of BPH.2

If you find yourself:

tired from frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
not feeling relieved even after you urinate
unable to sit through a business meeting, movie, or sports event without leaving for the bathroom, you may have BPH

For some men, BPH causes bothersome urinary symptoms which can interfere with daily activities including sleep. Your symptoms might even be affecting your partner, if you’re getting up in the middle of the night or you can’t travel or do things you enjoy, for fear of needing the bathroom.3

But there’s good news. You have many effective treatment options to choose from. Talk to your doctor today about your symptoms and about getting treated for BPH.

Get a Diagnosis — It’s Critical to Your Health, and to Those You Love

BPH is a common, manageable condition, especially when it’s diagnosed early. However, some of the symptoms of BPH can also indicate other, more serious conditions that require immediate treatment.2 For the sake of your loved ones, for the sake of your health, don’t "tough it out." Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor may refer you to a urologist— a physician who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs.2

Is BPH prostate cancer?
BPH Symptom Score Questionnaire
BPH treatment and diagnosis
Learn about treatment options for BPH

References

Fenter TC, Naslund MJ, Shah MB, et al. The cost of treating the 10 most prevalent diseases in men 50 years of age or older. Am J Manag Care. 2006;12(4 suppl):S90-S98
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prostate enlargement: benign prostatic hyperplasia. NIH Publication No. 07-3012. June 2006.
Shvartzman P, Borkan JM, Stoliar L, et al. Second-hand prostatism: effects of prostatic symptoms on spouses’ quality of life, daily routines and family relationships. Family Pract. 2001;18:610-613.
American Urological Association. AUA guideline on management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (2003). Chapter 1: Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. J Urol. 2003;170:530-547
Nickel JC. Comparison of clinical trials with finasteride and dutasteride. Rev Urol. 2004;6 Suppl 9:S31-9
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): A Patient’s Guide. Available at: http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/patient-guides/bph_guide_2003.pdf. Accessed February 4, 2009.
Brawer MK. A multicenter study on the efficacy and safety of interstitial laser coagulation versus α-blockade in subjects with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: preliminary results. Rev Urol. 2005;7(suppl 9):S29-S33.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia from NIH: Enlarged Prostate. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000381.htm. Accessed March 5, 2009.
Moriyama N, Nasu K, Takeuchi T, et al. Quantification and distribution of a1-adrenoceptor subtype mRNAs in human vas deferens: comparison with those of epididymal and pelvic portions. Br J Pharmacol. 1997;122:1009-1014.
Kuritzky L. A primary care physician’s perspective on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Rev Urol. 2003;5(suppl 5):S42-S48.
Wolters R, et al: Lower urinary tract symptoms: social influence is more important than symptoms in seeking medical care. BJU Int. 2002;90:655–661.
Rosen RC, Giuliano F, Cason CC. Sexual dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Eur Urol 2005;47:824–837.
Ponholzer A, Madersbacher S. Lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction; Links for diagnosis, management and treatment. Int J Impot Res. 2007;19:544-550.
National Institute on Aging: Talking With Your Doctor. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/TalkingWithYourDoctor/. Accessed March 5, 2009.
de Mey C, Michel MC, McEwen J, Moreland T. A double-blind comparison of terazosin and tamsulosin on their differential effects on ambulatory blood pressure and nocturnal orthostatic stress testing. Eur Urol. 1998;33(5):481-8.
http://www.dictionary.com
Atlas of Human Anatomy, Frank H. Netter, MD, Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Summit, NJ, 1989.

Talking to your doctor

It may help you to fill out the American Urological Association BPH Symptom Score Questionnaire.

Take the questionnaire >

The Prostate & BPH Common. Treatable. Take Action.

Like clamping a garden hose.

You’re not the only one.

Get a Diagnosis — It’s Critical to Your Health, and to Those You Love

The Prostate & BPH
Common. Treatable. Take Action.