Enlarged Prostate

Most men don’t give much thought to their prostate — until it causes a problem. The prostate is a small gland that surrounds the urethra (the tube through which you urinate).

Our urologists at the Henry Ford Men’s Health Center expertly diagnose and treat benign (not cancerous) prostate conditions. We carefully manage prostate problems using targeted medication, whenever possible.

If surgery is needed, our highly skilled surgeons use minimally invasive techniques, which means less discomfort and a faster recovery. Our expertise leads to high success rates with few complications.

Prostate health conditions we treat

Noncancerous prostate conditions do not increase your risk of prostate cancer. We treat all benign prostate conditions. The most common is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?

It’s normal for the prostate to grow as you age. A healthy prostate gland in a young man is about the size of a walnut. By the time a man is 60, his prostate may be as large as a lemon. BPH is a non-cancerous increase in prostate size that often occurs with aging.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (also called an enlarged prostate) doesn’t always cause health problems. It also doesn’t increase your risk of prostate cancer.

Symptoms of enlarged prostate

The urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) runs through the prostate. As the prostate grows bigger, it can squeeze the urethra. This can slow or block your urine flow. Symptoms include:

• Needing to urinate more frequently
• A weak urine flow
• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Feeling an urgent need to urinate
• Straining to empty your bladder
• A feeling of not emptying your bladder completely when you urinate

Treatments for enlarged prostate

Some men do not experience any enlarged prostate difficulties. But if symptoms interfere with your lifestyle, it’s important to see your doctor.

You may worry about side effects from treatment. In most cases, prostate surgery for non-cancerous enlargement does not result in erectile dysfunction. Our expert urologists work with you to find the safest, most effective treatment. Options include:

• Alpha-blockers: These medications help relax some of the muscles that surround the prostate. This makes urine flow more easily. It treats many symptoms but doesn’t shrink the prostate.
• 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors: This drug blocks an enzyme involved in stimulating prostate growth. This helps shrink the prostate, which may also relieve symptoms.
• Convective water vapor ablation (CWVA or Rezum procedure): During this outpatient procedure, we inject steam under the lining of the urethra into the prostate. This destroys some tissue, so the prostate is less likely to slow or block urine flow.
• Trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (Holep): These surgical procedures physically remove prostate tissue. They provide the best long-term treatment for an enlarged prostate if medication alone proves ineffective.

You don’t need to suffer in silence if you have symptoms related to your prostate health. Our experts at the Henry Ford Men’s Health Center have solutions that can help.