Enlarged prostate
Urologist Perth
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Enlarged prostate specialist Perth
What is benign prostate hyperplasia?
What are the main symptoms of BPH?
The main symptoms men complain of:
- Poor flow
- Straining to urinate
- A sensation of incomplete emptying
- Waiting a long time to get started
- Getting up a lot at night to urinate
- Urgency to urinate
- Frequency of urination
You should seek help if you:
- Have any of the above symptoms and they bother you
- Have seen blood in your urine
- Get urinary tract infections
Causes?
It is not completely understood why BPH occurs. However it is clear it occurs as men age and it is likely related to hormonal changes that occur as they age.
Known Risk factors:
- Age
- Family history of BPH
- Diabetes and heart disease
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
Apart from the symptoms above, enlarged prostates can have long term effects on the bladder:
- The bladder can become thick walled and overactive
- The bladder muscle can become weak and poor at emptying
Other complications that can occur:
- Inability to urinate at all
- Stones in the bladder
- Blood in the urine
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney failure from backpressure and longstanding retention of urine
The diagnosis of BPH is made with a combination of your history, examination and investigations:
- Symptom history and family history
- Rectal examination – to feel the prostate
- Blood and urine tests
- Ultrasound – size of prostate, kidney health, incomplete emptying
- Flow rate – checks how good your flow is
- Flexible cystoscopy – camera test to look at how much blockage your prostate is causing and the health of your bladder
- Urodynamics- Some patients may benefit from this test to differentiate between bladder problems or outlet blockage. It can help to inform Dr Kong as to whether you will benefit from BPH procedures or not.
Enlarged prostate specialist Perth
What are my treatment options?
If you are diagnosed with enlarged prostate or benign prostate hyperplasia, it does not necessarily mean that you need treatment or surgery. Many men have big prostates with no symptoms. Other men have smaller prostates but experience severe symptoms.
As your urologist, Dr Kong’s first focus is to give you a clear diagnosis and discuss your treatment options. They fall into three categories:
Conservative treatment options:
This would consist of lifestyle measures and the use of medications.
Minimally invasive procedures:
A Urolift procedure (making use of staples).
There is another procedure called angioembolisation, that Dr Kong doesn’t perform. It consists of cutting off the blood supply.
Bladder outlet surgery:
A TURP procedure (or a transurethral resection of the prostate) is one of the surgery types Dr Kong offers, as well as Enucleation (Also called a holmium laser enucleation of the prostate or HoLEP). It means that we use a laser to remove tissue that is blocking your urine flow through your prostate. Laser ablation is also a common surgery type but is not performed by Dr Kong.
Urolift Perth
What is Urolift?
Urolift is a minor procedure that pins the prostate open. It is performed with a general anaesthetic and with a telescope. It takes 10-15 minutes to perform and you can go home the same day.
It is ideal for men who wish to improve their symptoms from BPH but do not want to take medications or suffer the sexual side effects of treatment.
Not all men are suitable for this procedure, talk to Dr Kong about whether this procedure is an option for you.
Prostate specialist Perth | BPH
Why Dr Kong for Enlarged Prostate
Dr Kong takes a particular interest in men with BPH. She wants you to have options that suit your needs and lifestyle but she will always give her expert advice regarding what she feels may help you the most. If you are very symptomatic she can see you urgently if required. On average patients can be seen within 2 weeks.
Dr Kong treats all prostate conditions including:
- High PSA
- Prostate cancer
- Prostate infections
Contact
Kong Urology | Dr Jennifer Kong
Get in touch
Dr Jennifer Kong consults in
West Leederville close to SJOG Subiaco
164 Cambridge Street
WEST LEEDERVILLE WA 6007
Australia