Men's Health Week 2017

12th, Jun 2017

This week marks Men's Health Week and is a good opportunity to offer a gentle reminder to men of all ages that they need to pay more attention to their health and wellbeing.

Each day we will look at a different topic, starting with Prostate.

What is the Prostate?

The prostate is a small gland, about the shape and size of a walnut. It sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the first section of the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis (urethra).

The main function of the prostate gland is as a male reproductive organ. It produces the fluid that mixes with the sperm from the testicles to make semen. It also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that turns the semen into liquid, enabling it to be expelled during ejaculation.

Benign Prostate Enlargement

The prostate gland is only found in men and gets a little bit bigger with age. The medical terms for an enlarged prostate are Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE), alternatively referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

An enlarged prostate causes the walls of the urethra to narrow and squeeze together resulting in urinary retention, with symptoms such as slow urine flow and a need for frequent urination.

An enlarged prostate has a significant impact on a man’s quality of life. Sufferers may find that they need to stay near a toilet, which can make it difficult to work, drive, be outdoors and attend social events. If you are getting up a lot during the night to go to the toilet, you may find you feel more tired during the day.

The condition is common in men after the age of fifty, with about 40% suffering urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. That figure rises sharply to approximately 70%, for men over the age of sixty.

Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate

If you have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and suffer from urinary symptoms, there are several treatment options available.

Medicines

These medicines relax the muscles in the prostate and around the neck of the bladder, making it easier to pass urine. They do not cure an enlarged prostate but they can help to relieve symptoms.

Like any medicine, some patients may experience side-effects including dizziness, headaches, or sexual dysfunction. Also, some may not get adequate relief of their symptoms. Over 20% of men on medication for enlarged prostate discontinue treatment early for reasons such as being dissatisfied with side-effects or not getting adequate symptom relief.

UroLift® System Treatment for BPH and Urinary Retention

The Urolift® system procedure is a revolutionary, minimally invasive procedure. It is a very quick procedure, usually taking less than thirty minutes. Urolift also differs from other enlarged prostate treatments in that there is no cutting, heating or ablating tissue involved which means the treatment preserves sexual function.

Patients are normally able to leave the hospital within a few hours of the operation and can return to normal activity as soon as they feel confident to do so. Patients have experienced BPH symptom relief, such as relief from urinary retention and slow urine flow, as early as two weeks post operation.

Benefits Of Urolift® for Treating Enlarged Prostate

Rapid symptom relief
No negative impact on sexual function
Less invasive than surgery
No cutting, heating or removing prostate tissue
No bleeding
Consistent results
Considerably less expensive than surgery

For more information on Urolift for treating enlarged prostate or any other services carried out at Kingsbridge Private Hospital please contact our One2One team by email: one2one@3fivetwo.com or call: 02890667878.