When Nature Calls, Give Your Enlarged Prostate Relief
May 14, 2021By: Kenneth Collins
Categories: Live Healthy, Men's Health, Prevention, Your Wellness
It’s frustrating when several times, night after night, nature calls. To add salt to your sleepless wound, you may have a urine stream that’s weak, stops and starts, dribbles or is hesitant.
The blame most often falls on an enlarged prostate gland, which sits between the bladder and urethra. As men age and the prostate grows, it puts the urethra and obstructs urine flow. A minimally invasive procedure at North Kansas City Hospital can provide symptom relief.
Enlarged Prostate
Known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate is not cancerous. Risk increases as men age, with occurrence rates of 20%, 60% and 70% for men in their 50s, 60s and 70s, respectively. Each year, about 350,000 of these men need treatment.
Treatment for BPH typically begins with medications to relax and shrink the prostate. If medication doesn’t work, the UroLift procedure is the next step.
UroLift: For Urine Flow
UroLift is a 15-minute outpatient procedure. A urologic surgeon inserts tiny, permanent implants into the obstructed urethra. This relieves pressure on the enlarged prostate and opens the urethra for fast symptom relief.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure for men 45 and older with prostates up to 80 grams. A normal prostate ranges between 7 grams-11 grams.
The number of implants needed depends on the size of the prostate and degree of obstruction, but four to five implants may be needed.
The surgeon permanently places small implants into the urethra that lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way and increase the opening of the urethra.
Credit: UroLift by Teleflex Interventional Urology
Connect With a Urologist
Whether you have a concern about an enlarged prostate or another urological condition, NKCH urologists offer a full range of care. These compassionate professionals are committed to using the most effective and least invasive methods possible to promote faster healing and restore your quality of life.
