The choice of a treatment is based on the severity of your symptoms, the extent to which they affect your daily life, and the presence of any other medical conditions. Treatment options include "watchful waiting," lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery.

If you are over 60, you are more likely to have symptoms. But many men with an enlarged prostate have only minor symptoms. Self-care steps are often enough to make you feel better.

If you have BPH, you should have a yearly exam to monitor the progression of your symptoms and determine if any changes in treatment are necessary.

SELF-CARE

For mild symptoms:

• Urinate when you first get the urge. Also, go to the bathroom when you have the chance, even if you don't feel a need to urinate.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.
• Don't drink a lot of fluid all at once. Spread out fluids throughout the day. Avoid drinking fluids within 2 hours of bedtime.
• Try NOT to take over-the-counter cold and sinus medications that contain decongestants or antihistamines. These medications can increase BPH symptoms.
• Keep warm and exercise regularly. Cold weather and lack of physical activity may worsen symptoms.
• Learn and perform Kegel exercises (pelvic strengthening exercises).
• Reduce stress. Nervousness and tension can lead to more frequent urination.

MEDICATIONS

• Alpha 1-blockers (doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin, and afluzosin) are a class of medications also used to treat high blood pressure. These medications relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate. This allows easier urination. Most people treated with alpha 1-blocker medication find that it helps their symptoms.
• Finasteride and dutasteride lower levels of hormones produced by the prostate, reduce the size of the prostate gland, increase urine flow rate, and decrease symptoms of BPH. It may take 3 to 6 months before you notice much improvement in your symptoms. Potential side effects related to the use of finasteride and dutasteride include decreased sex drive and impotence.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), which may accompany BPH. Some men note relief of their BPH symptoms after a course of antibiotics.

SAW PALMETTO

Many herbs have been tried for treating an enlarged prostate. Saw palmetto has been used by millions of men to ease BPH symptoms and is often recommended as an alternative to medication. Some studies have shown that it helps with symptoms, but there is evidence that this popular herb is no better than a dummy pill in relieving the signs and symptoms of BPH. Further studies are needed. If you use saw palmetto and think it works, ask your doctor if you should still take it.

SURGERY

Prostate surgery may be recommended if you have:

• Incontinence
• Recurrent blood in the urine
• Inability to fully empty the bladder (urinary retention)
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Kidney failure
• Bladder stones

The choice of a specific surgical procedure is usually based on the severity of your symptoms and the size and shape of your prostate gland.

• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): This is the most common and most proven surgical treatment for BPH. TURP is performed by inserting a scope through the penis and removing the prostate piece by piece.
• Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP): This procedure is similar to TURP, but is usually performed in men who have a smaller prostate. It is usually performed without the need for a hospital stay. Like TURP, a scope is inserted through the penis until the prostate is reached. Then, rather than removing the prostate, a small incision is made in the prostate tissue to enlarge the opening of the urethra and bladder outlet.
• Simple prostatectomy: An open prostatectomy is usually performed using general or spinal anesthesia. An incision is made through the abdomen or perineum (the area behind the scrotum). Only the inner part of the prostate gland is removed. The outer portion is left behind. This is a lengthy procedure, and it usually requires a hospital stay of 5 to 10 days.

Most men who have prostate surgery have improvement in urine flow rates and symptoms. See prostate removal for a description of complications.

Other, less invasive procedures are available. These use different forms of heat to destroy prostate tissue, including:

• Radiofrequency energy -- transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)
• Microwave energy -- transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)
• Electrical current -- transurethral electrovaporization (TUVP)
• Hot water -- water-induced thermotherapy (WIT)
• Laser -- interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)

None of these techniques have been proven to be better than TURP. Patients who receive these less-invasive procedures are more likely to need surgery again after 5 or 10 years. However, these procedures may be a choice for:

• Younger men (many of the less-invasive procedures carry a lower risk for impotence and incontinence than TURP, although the risk with TURP is not very high)
• Elderly patients
• Patients with severe medical conditions, including uncontrolled diabetes, cirrhosis, alcoholism, psychosis, and serious lung, kidney, or heart disease
• Men who are taking blood-thinning drugs

Robot-guided prostatectomy is another newer technique. However, the technology is not widely available, and surgeon experience should be taken into consideration. In addition, there are no long-term studies of this surgery.

Another form of treatment is prostatic stents.

For more information, see prostate surgery.

See: BPH support groups

Men who have had long-standing BPH with a gradual increase in symptoms may develop:

• Sudden inability to urinate
• Urinary tract infections
• Urinary stones
• Damage to the kidneys
• Blood in the urine

Even after surgical treatment, a recurrence of BPH may develop over time.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Less urine than usual
• Fever or chills
• Back, side, or abdominal pain
• Blood or pus in your urine

Also call your doctor if:

• Your bladder does not feel completely empty after you urinate
• You take medications that may cause urinary problems, like diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or sedatives. Do NOT stop or adjust your medications on your own without talking to your doctor
• You have taken self-care measures for 2 months without relief