Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Overview

Each year, more than 6,000 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) trust Mayo Clinic urologists with their care. Mayo Clinic pioneered some of the leading minimally invasive techniques for treating men with enlarged prostates. Minimally invasive procedures typically result in shorter hospital stays, less discomfort and bleeding, and a shorter recovery period.

For example, Mayo Clinic surgeons pioneered the development, research and propagation of laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) for treating BPH, a technique that is used worldwide. Mayo surgeons remain at the forefront of laser therapy by offering holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a treatment option.

HoLEP is currently available only at a small number of specialty centers in the United States, and is rapidly becoming the benchmark for definitive BPH therapy over more invasive open or robotic surgical treatment.

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About Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

BPH, an enlargement of the prostate gland, is very common in older men. Generally, as men grow older, the prostate continues to grow, which can result in urine flow obstruction. BPH is noncancerous, but it can lead to urinary problems such as possible urinary tract infection, bladder stones, blood in the urine and, in some extreme cases, kidney failure. Read more about BPH.

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic urologists use a variety of BPH diagnostic tests and procedures, ranging from a digital rectal exam (DRE) to more advanced tests such as retrograde pyelography. In some cases, urologists use more complex evaluations to measure a patient's urine flow or to visually inspect the prostate. Test results generally are available within 24 hours. Read more about BPH diagnosis.

Treatment Options

BPH treatment at Mayo Clinic is tailored to each patient's needs and covers the entire spectrum of therapeutic options. Your Mayo physician may recommend behavioral changes, such as diet and exercise, and/or medications to help with mild symptoms and avoid surgery. For moderate cases of BPH, physicians may opt for microwave thermal therapy, laser therapies, transurethral needle ablation and other minimally invasive therapies to destroy overgrown tissue. They may also recommend transuretheral resection or the prostate (TURP). In rare cases, doctors may recommend open surgery to ease severe BPH symptoms. Read more about BPH treatment options.