Voiding Dysfunction Melbourne
Urinary Symptoms and Prostatic Dysfunction
Urinary symptoms, particularly those related to the prostate gland, can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and are commonly experienced by men as they age. These symptoms often arise due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that can cause urinary obstruction and various urinary issues. The management of prostate-related urinary symptoms includes both medical and surgical approaches.
Consult our Melbourne Urologist, Dr. Marlon Perera, who has a special interest in treating these conditions.
Urinary dysfunction and prostatic symptoms
Prostate-Related Urinary Symptoms: As the prostate gland enlarges with age, it can compress the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. This can lead to various urinary symptoms, including:
Urinary Frequency: An increased need to urinate more often, especially at night (nocturia).
Urgency: A sudden and compelling need to urinate that can be difficult to control.
- Weak Stream: The urine flow becomes weaker and may take longer to start.
- Hesitancy: Difficulty initiating urination, often requiring straining to start the stream.
- Incomplete Emptying: The feeling of not fully emptying the bladder after urination.
- Urinary Retention: In severe cases, the enlarged prostate can block urine flow entirely, leading to acute urinary retention, requiring immediate medical intervention
Management
Management Strategies:
-
Medications:
-
Alpha-Blockers: These drugs relax the smooth muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, improving urine flow and reducing symptoms of BPH.
-
5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: These medications help shrink the prostate gland over time by reducing the production of certain hormones that contribute to prostate growth.
-
Combination Therapy: In some cases, alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may be used together to achieve better symptom relief.
-
-
Minimally Invasive Procedures:
-
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): TURP is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes part of the enlarged prostate that is obstructing the urethra. It is considered the gold standard surgical treatment for BPH.
-
Photoselective Vaporisation of the Prostate (PVP): PVP is a minimally invasive laser procedure that vaporises excess prostate tissue, relieving urinary obstruction.
-