BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)

About 50% of men over the age of 60 and 80% of those over the age of 80 have symptoms related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition characterised by increased volume of the prostate gland which occurs as men get older. There are two types of urinary tract symptoms: storage and voiding.

Voiding symptoms include: hesitancy, intermittency, incomplete bladder emptying, weak urinary flow, and strain in urination. Storage symptoms include the need to urinate frequently, waking at night to urinate, urgency (compelling need to void that cannot be deferred) and a burning sensation. Until a few years ago, when the disease was predominantly treated through surgery, 20% of men over 50 years of age underwent partial resection of the prostate. Today, thanks to BPH drugs, in many cases it is possible to avoid or at least postpone surgery, reducing the symptoms.