Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy, is a condition in which the prostate
gland becomes very enlarged and may cause problems associated with urination. These problems may include difficulty starting
the flow of urine, slow flow of urine, frequent urination (especially at night), incomplete bladder emptying, discomfort with
urination, or urinary infection. BPH can also raise
prostate-specific antigen (PSA). An increased PSA level does not indicate cancer, but all men with elevated PSA levels should be evaluated by a urologist.
Some of the signs of BPH and prostate cancer are the same. BPH does not seem to increase the chances of developing prostate
cancer. A man who has BPH may also have undetected prostate cancer at the same time, or he may develop prostate cancer in
the future. Therefore, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society recommend that all men over 50 consult
their physicians about having a digital rectal and PSA examination once a year to screen for prostate cancer, even if they
have undergone surgery for BPH.
Treatment at Jefferson
To help men with BPH, Jefferson urologists offer a full complement of minimally invasive treatments, including drug therapy,
transurethral microwave thermotherapy (in which microwaves are used to heat and destroy excess prostate tissue) and interstitial
laser treatment (which uses a laser fiber to heat and destroy excess tissue), as well as traditional and laser surgeries.
Jefferson is a leader in the use of leading-edge, minimally invasive procedures, offering the first microwave treatments in
the Delaware Valley in 1997. These leading-edge procedures effectively treat BPH on an outpatient basis with no general anesthesia
and with little blood loss, no risk of fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
Additional information about BPH
