Bladder Outlet Obstruction
Alternate Names : BOO, Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction, Prostatism
DefinitionThis obstruction is at the base of the bladder, and it reduces or prevents the flow of urine into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Bladder outlet obstruction can have many different causes. Some of the most common causes of BOO include:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Bladder calculi (stones)
- Urethral stricture (scar tissue)
- Bladder tumors (cancer)
- Pelvic tumors (cervix, prostate, uterus, rectal)
Less common causes of bladder outlet obstruction include:
- Cystocele
- Posterior urethral valves (congenital birth defect)
- Foreign objects
- Urethral spasms
- Urethral diverticula
Bladder outlet obstruction is most common in the aging male. Bladder stones and bladder cancer are also more commonly seen in men than women. As men age, their chances of developing these diseases increases dramatically. One in three American males over the age of 60 has significant symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction.
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