MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: About 50 percent of men likely to develop BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) by the age of 40 to 50, said health experts.

While briefing media in connection with international BPH awareness week, they said, “If BPH is left untreated, acute urinary retention and surgery are the most important long term complications. Worsening of symptoms also have a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life and can interfere with a person’s daily activities.”

“Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called BPH, is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged. As the prostate enlarges, the gland compresses the lower urinary system leading to bothersome urinary symptoms,” Head of Department of Urology at Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore, Dr Mumtaz Ahmad said.

He added that acute urinary retention (AUR) is defined as a sudden inability to pass urine. This condition is a medical emergency. He mentioned that studies have shown that the frequency starts to increase in men in their 40s, reaching 40 percent to 50 percent for men in their 50s, greater than 70 percent for men in their 60s, and 80 percent to 90 percent for men in their 80s and older.

When asked why there is a delay in seeking medical care, Dr Mumtaz said men with urinary symptoms are hesitant to discuss these symptoms with their physician, perhaps because of embarrassment, a belief that such symptoms are a normal part of aging, or even a fear of the possible treatments such as surgery.

“The exact cause of BPH is not well understood. However age and hormonal factors contribute to the development of BPH. This is a normal part of the aging process and men who are older than 50 have a higher chance of developing BPH,” said Dr Muhammad Nazir, Head of Department of Urology at Post Graduate Institute (PGMI), Lahore General Hospital (LGH), Lahore.

Talking about the symptoms of BPH, Dr Nazir said bothersome urinary symptoms included: increased frequency (Passing urine less than every 2 hours); intermittency (Stopping and starting again several times during urination); urgency (Finding it difficult to postpone urine); incomplete emptying (Having the sensation of not emptying the bladder completely); having a weak urinary stream; having to strain during micturition; and Nocturia (Number of times one has to get up to pass urine at night).