Ever wondered ‘Why Does an Enlarged Prostate Cause Frequent Urination’? As the walnut-sized prostate grows, it can compress the urethra, interrupting urine flow. This may lead to issues like UTIs and dribbling. Nightly bathroom visits become a common challenge for many men. Frequent urination supplements may offer relief. Dive into the intricacies of male urinary health!
Frequent Urination
Men often seek medical advice if they find themselves regularly waking up during the night or having frequent trips to the bathroom interfering with their daily life activities. Furthermore, incontinence may be present as well, which needs medical intervention as soon as possible. Frequent urination may be an indicator of an enlarged prostate (BPH). The prostate gland, roughly the size of a chestnut, encases the urethra tube through which urine exits the body. As men age, their prostate gland enlarges naturally through benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate crowds its anatomical neighbors such as the urethra which then narrows, leading to symptoms like slow or incomplete urination, feeling of never empty bladder, and an urge to urinate frequently (particularly at night).
The doctor will ask about your health history and conduct an exam. It may be beneficial to keep track of how often you use the toilet over a two or three day period prior to seeing him/her; then bring this data with you so they can analyze it at their appointment. Urine samples will also be checked for color, volume and clarity and digital rectal exams may also be performed wherein lubricated gloved fingers are inserted into rectum in order to feel for abnormalities in prostate gland.
Physical exams and medical histories will help the doctor decide on further procedures based on what causes your urinary symptoms. Fever or backache could indicate infection; tests that a urologist might use to investigate frequent urination could include cystometry (in which a lighted instrument is inserted into the urethra to measure how much urine flows out) as well as pelvic floor physical therapy or Kegel exercises designed to strengthen muscles that control bladder function.
When treating frequent urination, one of the best strategies is adjusting how much fluid they consume and eliminating caffeine-containing drinks; also cutting back on any consumption shortly before bed. A doctor might prescribe medication to shrink prostate size or relax bladder and urethra muscles; in more serious instances they might suggest surgery either to remove some or all of it, relieve pressure from urethra pressure points, or empty completely the bladder.
Urinary Tract Infections
Men with an enlarged prostate may suffer urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs can lead to painful sensations in the bladder and pelvic area as well as urgency to urinate even in the middle of the night. A urologist will likely prescribe antibiotics in addition to treating any other issues which might be contributing to frequent urination such as urinary tract stones or bacteria build-up that cause frequent urination.
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized structure found within male bodies. It wraps itself around the urethra – the tube responsible for carrying urine from the bladder out of the body – as it expands. As it gets larger, however, its weight can squeeze or pinch this tube limiting urine flow from reaching its destination. As it does so, its presence may interfere with urine delivery to its destination and create urinary tract infections or interfere with sexual performance.
BPH, the most prevalent cause of an enlarged prostate, can bring on these symptoms. An enlarged prostate can compress the urethra and inhibit urine flow from reaching its destination – an uncomfortable and frustrating situation for men who must go to the restroom often.
Additionally, an overly-large prostate can prevent the bladder from fully emptying – this may even affect men without other symptoms of an enlarged prostate but with one nonetheless.
Step one in diagnosing a prostate problem is having a doctor interview you about your symptoms. They will want to know how often and if there are any urges to urinate. A urologist will then conduct a physical exam of both the prostate and its surroundings. He will also collect a urine sample to assess for bacteria presence, and may order an ultrasound, urodynamic pressure study or cystoscopy for further assessment of your prostate. He may then prescribe medication that aids urination to relieve symptoms related to your enlarged prostate. If medications don’t seem to help, he can provide treatment options such as surgery. He can also refer you to specialists, including urologists who may offer more effective remedies like Rezum or Urolift.
Medications
An enlarged prostate can quickly fill your bladder, prompting more frequent urges to go and lead to difficulty sleeping at night, leaving you exhausted during the daytime. Some men experience sudden-onset of these symptoms; should this occur to you immediately seek medical assistance immediately.
A GP might ask how often and what medication you need to go, as well as any issues surrounding urination problems that have worsened due to these drugs. Telling the doctor everything that’s being taken may help them identify which cause urinary issues more quickly.
Your GP may decide to conduct some tests. These may include a digital rectal exam in which they insert their finger with gloved hand into your rectum to detect any enlargement or tenderness on the back wall of the prostate, as well as other studies such as urodynamic pressure flow study, ultrasound of bladder and urethra or cystoscopy to look directly into prostate using small tube. Blood tests may be required in order to check for infections and conditions which affect bladder or prostate such as cancer.
Your GP may suggest medications to decrease prostate size or relax your bladder if they suspect this may be the source of urinary problems. If they don’t work, however, surgery might be recommended instead.
Home treatments may provide relief. You could try drinking less fluid at night and limiting caffeine- and alcohol-containing drinks that might exacerbate urges to urinate, such as caffeinated drinks. Furthermore, planning bathroom breaks throughout the day and scheduling trips right before bed can reduce trips to the toilet in the middle of the night; double voiding may also help – peeing and then going again shortly thereafter is known as double voiding.
Surgery
Men experiencing urinary symptoms shouldn’t dismiss them as part of getting older and dismissible as something they need to deal with on their own. They should visit a physician if the symptoms interfere with daily life or affect daily activities; medications and treatments exist that could alleviate these problems; treatment should also be sought if blood is detected in urine samples or they simply can’t pee at all.
The prostate gland is located just behind the rectum and below the bladder, wrapping around part of the tube that transports urine out of the body. As men age, their prostate often becomes larger through benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Though not cancerous or life threatening, BPH may hinder urine flow if too large; symptoms include slow or delayed starting of urination, frequent night time trips to urinate as well as the feeling that one’s bladder remains partially full even after urinating.
As people age, their prostate gland becomes larger for reasons which remain unknown; possibly related to changes in sex hormone levels. Over time, its size increases until it no longer fits around the urethra comfortably, crowding and narrowing it. Unfortunately, no research exists into whether having a larger prostate increases cancer risks or leads to other problems such as frequent need to urinate and difficulty emptying bladder.
There are various treatments for an enlarged prostate, and which option best fits a given patient depends on his individual circumstances. Any man having difficulty urinating should consult his healthcare provider for a complete workup that includes both a urological exam and bladder ultrasound to check kidneys and bladder outlet function.
It may become necessary to remove the prostate in certain instances. This surgery can either be performed through a small incision on the side of the abdomen or, increasingly commonly, using robot-assisted laparoscopic technology. After surgery is performed, medications may then be used to keep the prostate smaller and relieve any associated symptoms.
