Enlarged Prostate Specialist

What is an enlarged prostate?

About half of men aged 51-60 have an enlarged prostate. It's normal for the prostate to grow slowly throughout adulthood, and it can eventually get large enough to pressure your urethra and thicken your bladder wall. This can cause urethral narrowing and urinary retention.

The problem usually becomes most pronounced later in life. About 90% of men over age 80 have an enlarged prostate gland. 

What problems does an enlarged prostate gland cause?

An enlarged prostate often causes frustrating problems like:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Slow urine stream
• Dribbling during urination
• Full bladder sensation, even after urinating
• Straining to urinate
• Urinating multiple times overnight (as often as every 1-2 hours)
  
  

These symptoms can increase gradually, sometimes without being too obvious until they’re severe. If you’re experiencing concerning urinary issues, it’s important to see Dr. Curtis at Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC as soon as possible for an evaluation. 

How do you treat an enlarged prostate?

You don’t have to live with enlarged prostate symptoms because there are many cutting-edge treatments available. Dr. Curtis offers a range of BPH treatments, including:

UroLift™

A minimally invasive treatment for BPH that can be done in the office or outpatient surgery center. UroLift allows patients to get off their medications and has zero sexual side effects.

What is the UroLift System?

Treatment with the UroLift® System uses a minimally invasive approach that provides rapid relief and recovery of BPH symptoms. It is an earlier treatment option can get men off BPH medications and avoid major surgery. The goal of the UroLift System treatment is to relieve symptoms so you can get back to your life and resume your daily activities.

The UroLift® System treatment has demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life for patients compared to medications. The UroLift® System is the only BPH procedure shown not to cause new and lasting erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction*, while being a safe and effective treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH.

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How Does The UroLift® System Work?

The UroLift® System uses a revolutionary approach to treating BPH that lifts and holds the enlarged prostate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra. It is the only available BPH treatment performed by a urologist that does not require heating, cutting, or removal of the prostate tissue. The procedure is typically performed using local anesthesia in a physician’s office or ambulatory surgery center. Patients typically return home the same day without a catheter.

UroLift® System Animation

Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a good candidate for the UroLift® System treatment?

You may be a good candidate if you are a male, 45 years of age or older, and have symptoms relating to BPH. Speak with your urologist to see if the UroLift® System treatment is right for you. If you have a known allergy to nickel, titanium or stainless steel, talk to your doctor about your allergy before getting a UroLift System treatment.

What should I expect during the treatment? Is it painful? How long does it take?

If you and your doctor decide that the UroLift® System treatment is right for you, your doctor will provide you with more detailed information relating to the treatment. In general, the UroLift System is a minimally invasive treatment that entails minimal downtime. Your doctor will use the UroLift Delivery Device to deploy permanent implants to relieve obstruction caused by the enlarged prostate that is pressing on your urethra. The procedure, which usually takes less than an hour, may be performed under local or general anesthesia and you may be given medication to feel comfortable during the treatment. This typically helps minimize discomfort during the procedure, though everyone’s definition for pain and discomfort varies greatly. Typically, no catheter and no overnight stay is required post-treatment.

What happens post-treatment, during the recovery period? Are meds required?

After the treatment, patients typically go home the same day without a catheter. There is minimal downtime post-treatment and many patients experience symptom relief in as early as 2 weeks. Patients may experience some urinary discomfort during the recovery period. Most common side effects are mild to moderate and include pain or burning with urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate and/or the inability to control the urge. Most symptoms resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure.

Does the treatment affect my sexual function?

Clinical studies have shown the UroLift® System treatment does not cause new, sustained instances of erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction. The same cannot always be said of other BPH therapies such as TURP, laser, and even medication.

Does my insurance cover the treatment?

The UroLift® System treatment is covered by Medicare and many private insurers. Contact your insurance provider for your specific coverage information.

More Frequently Asked Questions

Talking to Your Doctor about BPH

BPH is a very common condition and is one of the leading reasons men visit a urologist. Whether you have just started experiencing symptoms or if you've tried various medications or even surgery, there are a range of treatment options available.

Before you visit the doctor's office, you can take this BPH Symptom Quiz, designed by the American Urological Association, to determine the severity of your symptoms. We will discuss your symptoms together to decide which treatment option is best for you.

Schedule an appointment today to discuss your BPH symptoms with us.

Please contact us at (941) 271-9100.

GreenLight™ laser therapy

In GreenLight laser therapy, Dr. Curtis uses a laser to destroy extra prostate tissue that obstructs urination. GreenLight laser therapy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that requires no incisions, offers faster recovery, has virtually no bleeding, and with fewer sexual side effects than traditional surgery.

Robotic simple prostatectomy

In a robotic simple prostatectomy, which is usually for severe BPH symptoms, Dr. Curtis guides the da Vinci surgical robot to expertly remove a portion or all of the prostate gland. Robotic surgery is more exact and has far smaller incisions, less bleeding, less pain, and shorter recovery compared to traditional surgery.

There are additional enlarged prostate treatments, such as oral medication to relax the muscles, shrink the prostate gland, and improve urine flow. Dr. Curtis recommends the options that can give you the best long-term symptom relief with the fewest side effects. 

Call Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC or book an appointment online for enlarged prostate help today.

BPH QUESTIONNAIRE