Prostate BPH

Posted , 11 users are following.

It appears most men experience will experience symptomatic prostate enlargement , some sooner than later. But no one really knows the biochemistry of it all. How and why does prostate enlargement occur and how to stop it. There are theories but none have been proven.  So far the treatment focuses on three avenues. Relax the sphincter in the bladder with drugs like terazosin or reduce the production of DHT by pharmaceuticals like Avodart. The other procedures involve burning out the prostate tissue with lasers, microwave, or heat. The latest appears to be the PAE, which alters the blood flow to the prostate, and somehow it appears in many the prostate is reduced in size. In the future ,someone will probably figure out how to decrease the growth of the prostate with some drug, and avoid the misery of its effect on bladder emptying. But until than we are in limbo and forced to relay on the options above.

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    Another option is CIC (self catherization). CIC can be a short or long term solution to BPH. In my case, I opted CIC over TURP surgery and over the course of a few years lowered my I-PSS score from "severe" to borderline "mild". 

    Jim

    • Posted

      I understand self catherization but what is I-PSS? Whats its meaning and what is it about? Thanks.
    • Posted

      The question is how much side effect in each one of these options including CIC.

      FJ

    • Posted

      As to the drugs and surgery, you really should take the time to research possible side effects, incuding reading the personal experiences here. In both these categories side effects can include compromised sexual function such as irreversible retrograde (dry) ejaculation, although some of the less invasive procedures such as PAE avoid that. The main side effect of CIC is often listed as UTI's but paradoxically CIC can also cut down the amount of UTI's by emptying the bladder more completely. I had a couple of UTI's when I started CIC but in the couple of years since then have hardly had any. A number of people here who do CIC also report very little incidence of UTI's. False passage, bleeding and urethral trauma are also listed as side effects but not that common, and easily reversable. Colonization (asymptomatic bacteria) is also a common side effect but there are no symptons and I haven't read anywhere that this is harmful. Sort of like the way much of our body is colonized with unharmful bacteria.

      Jim

    • Posted

      As "twiglet" said, it stands for International Prostate Sympton Score. 

      "Google" it and take the written test. takes only a couple of minutes. 

      The purpose of the test is to quickly access the severity (or non severity) of your urinary tract symptons.

      Jim

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