About this topic
The prostate is a part of the mans body that helps make semen and is found at the base of the penis and in front of the rectum. In benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, the prostate grows bigger. A man's prostate often gets larger as he gets older. The flow of urine may be blocked as the prostate gets larger. ‚
Your treatment may include: ‚
- Waiting to see if the signs get better or get worse. Often, the signs will get better on their own.
- Placing a tube, called a catheter, through your penis into your bladder. The catheter may help drain your urine if you are not able to pass urine on your own.
- Taking drugs
- Having a procedure to shrink the size of the prostate using heat
- Surgery
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says you need to do.
- Your doctor may put a tube called a catheter into your penis to help drain urine. The tube will need to stay in for 7 to 10 days. You will be taught about how to care for the tube. Care may include:
- Tape the tube to your leg. This will help keep the tube from getting pulled out.
- Keep the tubing free of kinks or bends. Then, urine can drain easily.
- Keep your urine bag below the level of your hips. Then urine will not flow back into your body.
- Empty your urine bag when 2/3 full. Be sure to wash your hands before and after you empty the bag. Your doctor may want you to measure and write down how much urine you empty from the bag.
- Clean your penis using soap and water two times each day. Rinse with plain water and gently pat dry to prevent infection.
- Ask your doctor if you are able to take a shower while you have the tube in place.
- Your doctor will be able to remove the tube in the office.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits.
- Your doctor will tell you if you need to see a urologist, which is a doctor with special training to treat problems with urine flow and prostate problems.
- If your signs get worse, your doctor may suggest procedures to reduce the size of your prostate.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Control your prostate enlargement
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
If you have a catheter in, you may need to limit lifting and some activities until the catheter is removed. Otherwise, you should be able to return to your normal activities. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Eat a healthy diet with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Drink at least 8 glasses of fluid each day to prevent hard stools. If you have hard stools, you tend to strain and that can put more pressure on the prostate. Ask your doctor if you can take a laxative if you have hard stools. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Urinary tract infections
- Problems with erections or discharge of semen from the penis during climax
- Bleeding
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
A mans prostate gets bigger as he gets older. You cannot stop the prostate from getting bigger. Doing the following things may help with the signs of BPH: ‚
- Pass urine when you first feel the urge.
- Do not stop your flow.
- Avoid beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol). Avoid caffeine. The listed drinks can make you go more often and bother your urinary tract.
- Avoid or drink less fluids with caffeine that can make you go more often and bother your urinary tract.
- Stop drinking fluids a few hours before bedtime or going out.
- After you empty your bladder, wait a moment and try to go again (double voiding). Do not strain or push to empty your bladder.
- Have a physical exam each year. If you are 40 years old or older, you should have your prostate checked every year.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Call your doctor if you have a catheter in place and you have: ‚
- Signs of infection, such as fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Itching and redness in the area where your catheter was put in
- Lots of blood in your urine
- Cloudy colored urine or pus in urine
- Little or no urine is draining
- Accidentally pulled out your catheter
- Upset stomach, throwing up, or very bad belly pain
- Pain not helped by drugs ordered
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
If you do not have a catheter, be sure to call your doctor if your signs get worse or if you have: ‚
- Signs of urine infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, burning or pain when you pass urine
- No urine or more problems passing urine
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my drainage tube, if I have one.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have cloudy urine or little or no urine coming out.
Where can I learn more?
American Urological Association Foundation ‚
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=144 ‚
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚