THE benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) usually begins in men over 40 years of age and when associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can have a major impact on quality of life. Stromal and prostate epithelial hyperplasia can cause prostatic urethral stricture with difficulty urinating.
Symptoms of Benign prostatic hyperplasia can be:
- Obstructive (weak jet, effort to urinate, interrupted jet, hesitation, dripping, incontinence, emptying);
- Irritating (urgency to urinate, polaciuria - go several times a day to the bathroom and urinate little, suprapubic pain, nocturia - more than one episode of urination at night, among others).
The diagnosis can be made through the clinical history (presence of LUTS), a detailed physical examination, digital prostate examination (rectal examination), PSA and urinalysis, and complemented with prostate biopsy, urinary cytology, among others, depending on whether the suspicion is of HPB or cancer.
In the case of suspected HPB or prostate cancer, a urologist should be consulted as soon as possible for the correct evaluation and treatment.
