BPH Specialist in Tampa, FL
Dr. Rafael Carrion and Dr. Justin Parker have years of experience diagnosing and treating men in Tampa for enlarged prostate. As board certified urologists, Dr. Carrion and Dr. Parker can discuss your treatment options and will take the time to answer your questions. Call (813) 821-8035 to schedule an appointment with our BPH specialists today!
What causes a prostate gland to become enlarged?
The prostate gland is a small gland in men located between the bladder and the penis. The gland secretes some of the fluid that makes up semen and it also helps propel the ejaculate through the urethra. The prostate can sometimes become enlarged as a result of aging. As the most common cause of prostate gland enlargement, this condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Less often, an enlarged prostate can develop as a result of infection-related inflammation (prostatitis) or even prostate cancer. It is important to consult with a specialist if you suspect you may have BPH.
What is BPH?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition in which the prostate enlarges as men get older. BPH is a very common condition that affects over 42 million men in the US1 and over 660 million aging men worldwide.2.3 Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s have BPH.2 While BPH is a benign condition and unrelated to prostate cancer, it can greatly affect a man’s quality of life.
As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing bothersome urinary symptoms. If left untreated, BPH can lead to permanent bladder damage.4
Symptoms include:5,6
- Frequent need to urinate both day and night
- Weak or slow urinary stream
- A sense that you cannot completely empty your bladder
- Difficulty or delay in starting urination
- Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
- A urinary stream that stops and starts
Symptoms of BPH can cause loss of productivity, depression, and decreased quality of life.7
If you suffer from the above symptoms, you are not alone. BPH is the leading reason men visit a urologist.8
You can measure the severity of your BPH symptoms by taking the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Sharing this information with your physician will help them understand the severity of your symptoms.
Even watchful waiting has its risks. Bladder outlet obstruction could result in irreversible bladder damage if left untreated4
References
- NeoTract US Market Model estimates for 2020, data on file.
- Berry, et al., Journal of Urology 1984
- US Census Bureau international database worldwide population estimates for 2020
- Tubaro, Drugs Aging 2003
- Rosenberg, Int J Clin Pract 2007
- Vuichoud, Can J Urol 2015
- Speakman, BJUI International 2014
- IMS Health NDTI Urology Specialty Profile Report 2013
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Looking for a specialist in the treatment of BPH?
Schedule an appointment at our Tampa office today at (813) 821-8035.