LIFE WITH BPH
MAY FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ON A ROLLER COASTER.

Frustration. Anxiety. Coping. Hoping. You are not alone with the constant up and down of searching for a solution that works. The majority of men over 50 will face Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) at some point. Unfortunately, that’s just the reality of aging for most men.

BPH can be exhausting, even feeling like it’s taking over your life. In spite of all these difficulties, you know your BPH doesn’t define you. And you don’t want to settle by making compromises as to how you live your life.

A man with BPH is much more than just a man with BPH.

BPH RELIEF WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Although the effects of BPH are often characterized as only physical limitations, the mental and emotional drain that can result from living with BPH can be overlooked.

Men who are struggling with BPH want to reclaim their identity and get back to the things they love the most—whether that’s playing golf with friends, traveling with family, or being intimate with their partner.

Life is full of decisions—choosing between treatment side effects and BPH relief shouldn’t be one of them.

“I was 50 and a marathon runner. I was not expecting this to happen to me.

BPH affected me in a lot of ways, most powerfully with intimacy and with my confidence.”

John D., 51

What is BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is a prostate that has grown to be larger than normal. BPH is not prostate cancer.

A normal prostate is approximately the size of a walnut and sits underneath the bladder, wrapped around the urethra. The prostate is a gland that plays an important role in sexual function.

As the prostate grows and becomes larger than normal, it may:

  1. Constrict the urethra, making it difficult to urinate
  2. Apply pressure on the bladder, causing it to weaken and have difficulty emptying

If left untreated, BPH can cause significant health problems, including irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence.

Normal Prostate

Urine flows normally from the bladder, through the prostate, and out of the body.

normal prostate

Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

An enlarged prostate makes it difficult to urinate normally.

enlarged prostate

“The biggest issue was that I was no longer in control of my life. I’m in very good health, and then, boom, all of a sudden, I’m playing defense instead of taking full advantage of the world. I was always thinking ‘what if I’m going to have to go to the bathroom right now’ in the middle of anything. That was a huge weight on my shoulders.”

Steve S., 73

WHAT CAUSES BPH?

The prostate goes through two phases of growth. The first phase starts in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size and then stops growing. At the end of this first phase of growth, the prostate is the size of a walnut. The second phase starts around the age of 25, when the prostate continues to grow for the rest of a man’s life.

The cause of prostate enlargement is not known.

What’s Your BPH Symptom Score?

See how your symptoms are impacting your quality of life with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire.

TAKE THE BPH SYMPTOM QUIZ

Signs and Symptoms of BPH

BPH may cause symptoms called Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), which affect the bladder, prostate and urethra and impact your ability to hold urine and empty your bladder.

According to the AUA guidelines, 30% of men over 50 years old will encounter moderate-to-severe LUTS, and 90% of men will experience moderate-to-severe LUTS by the time they are 85 years old, which is likely predominantly caused by BPH. Furthermore, 50% of men between the ages of 51-60 have pathological BPH. 3,4

Two Categories of LUTS Symptoms

1. Ability to hold urine

Urgency – the need to urinate immediately or urgently

Frequency – the need to urinate more often than normal

Nocturia – the need to urinate frequently at night while sleeping

Incontinence – complete loss of the ability to hold urine

2. Emptying the bladder

Straining – the need to push or strain to start and complete urinating

Dysuria – pain or stinging when urinating

Hesitancy – difficulty starting to urinate

Weak Stream – gentle or weak stream instead of a strong stream of urine

Intermittency – a urine stream that starts and stops

Retention – complete loss of the ability to empty your bladder

LUTS Also Impacts Quality of Life

  • Inability to sleep through the night
  • Limiting activities due to proximity to the bathroom
  • Embarrassment and frustration
  • Impact on relationships
  • Impact on professional life
  • Impact on social activities
  • Impact on sexual function – erectile function and/or ejaculatory function

BPH Statistics

1 in 2 Men ages 51-60 have BPH1
3 of 4 Men say BPH impacts how they feel about themselves2
99% Of men say BPH impacts their quality of life2

Sexual Function Quiz

Take our questionnaire and see if maintaining sexual function after BPH surgery is important to you.

TAKE THE SEXUAL FUNCTION QUIZ

“Who wants to talk about their prostate when out having a beer with their buddies? Not me.

But finding out I wasn’t alone was a huge relief.”

John D., 51

BPH DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing BPH starts with a visit to your doctor (urologist, or primary-care-physician, or internist) who will review your symptoms and run a series of tests.

These tests may include:

  • physical examination of your prostate
  • review of your symptoms
  • series of medical tests that evaluate your ability to store urine in your bladder and your ability to urinate

Your doctor will test you to see if your symptoms are being caused by BPH or something else. If these initial tests confirm that your symptoms are caused by BPH, your doctor will then discuss treatment options with you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TESTING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

“It’s a roller coaster. It’s full of ups and downs. It’s never consistent. I’ve been on several alpha blockers. Some of them may work. Your life may be doing great, but the drug or that treatment might not be effective anymore. And then you have to find something else that works. Just like a roller coaster.”

John D., 51

References
  1. Roehrborn, CG, Rosen, RC. Medical therapy options for aging men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: focus on alfuzosin 10 mg once daily. Clinical Interventions in Aging 2008:3(3).
  2. Data on file at PROCEPT BioRobotics.
  3. Foster, HE, et al. Surgical Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline. Urology. 2018. Vol 200. 612-619.
  4. Berry et al. Development of Human BPH with Age. Urology 132. 1984.

All surgical treatments have inherent and associated side effects. Individual’s outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or surgeon experience. The most common side effects are mild and transient and may include mild pain or difficulty when urinating, discomfort in the pelvis, blood in the urine, inability to empty the bladder or a frequent and/or urgent need to urinate, and bladder or urinary tract infection. Other risks include ejaculatory dysfunction and a low risk of injury to the urethra or rectum where the devices gain access to the body for treatment. Further, there may be other risks as in other urological surgery, such as anesthesia risk or the risk of infection, including the potential transmission of blood borne pathogens. For more information about potential side effects and risks associated with Aquablation therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatment, speak with your urologist or surgeon. Prior to using our products, please review the Instructions for Use, Operator’s Manual or User Manual, as applicable, and any accompanying documentation for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential adverse events. No claim is made that the AquaBeam Robotic System will cure any medical condition, or entirely eliminate the diseased entity. Repeated treatment or alternative therapies may sometimes be required.

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