Treatment of an Enlarged Prostate in Abuja

Treatment of an Enlarged Prostate in Abuja

Treatment of an enlarged prostate in Abuja is one of the most searched health topics online today. An enlarged prostate — the medical term is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) — is a condition that becomes increasingly common as men get older. It can lead to difficulty passing urine, a weak stream, frequent bathroom trips, being woken up repeatedly at night to urinate, sudden urges to go, dribbling, and a bladder that never quite feels empty.

The right treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are and the individual patient’s condition — options range from simple lifestyle changes to medication or minimally invasive prostate procedures.

What Is an Enlarged Prostate?

The prostate is a small gland sitting just below the bladder in men. The urethra — the tube that carries urine out of the body — runs directly through it.

As men age, the prostate tends to grow larger over time. When it enlarges enough, it can squeeze or block the urethra, making it harder for urine to flow normally.

This is what doctors call Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH.

It’s important to note that BPH is not prostate cancer. Having an enlarged prostate doesn’t automatically mean cancer is present. Still, because urinary symptoms can stem from several different causes, anything persistent or bothersome should be checked out by a qualified doctor.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate

BPH symptoms tend to build up gradually. Some men notice only minor urinary changes at first, while others develop more serious blockage that disrupts sleep and daily life.

Symptoms commonly seen include:

• Trouble starting to urinate
• A weak urine stream
• Slow, sluggish urine flow
• Needing to urinate often
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Starting and stopping mid-stream
• Dribbling after finishing
• A sense that the bladder hasn’t fully emptied
• Straining to get urine out
• Trouble keeping a steady urinary flow
• Complete inability to urinate (urinary retention)

Interestingly, some men have serious symptoms even without a very large prostate, while others have a significantly enlarged prostate but only mild symptoms. Because of this, prostate size alone doesn’t determine what treatment is needed.

When Should You See a Urologist in Abuja for an Enlarged Prostate?

It’s worth seeing a urologist whenever urinary symptoms stick around or start interfering with your normal routine.

Medical evaluation becomes especially important if you:

• Keep waking up at night to urinate
• Struggle to start urinating
• Notice your urine stream getting progressively weaker
• Often feel your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
• Keep getting urinary tract infections
• Notice blood in your urine
• Have had urinary retention before
• Have to strain heavily just to urinate
• Find your symptoms are affecting your quality of life

If you suddenly find yourself completely unable to pass urine, that requires immediate medical attention.

Catching the problem early makes it easier to pinpoint the cause and decide whether monitoring, medication or a procedure is the right next step.

How Is an Enlarged Prostate Diagnosed?

Before recommending any treatment, a urologist first needs to assess the patient’s symptoms and confirm that BPH is actually the cause.

Depending on the individual case, the evaluation may involve:

• A review of medical history
• Physical examination
• Various investigations, including:
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture
  • Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test
  • Kidney function test
  • Full blood count
  • Ultrasound scan to measure prostate size
  • Uroflowmetry
  • Additional tests where necessary
  • Digital rectal examination — where the urologist checks the feel of the prostate manually

The goal isn’t just to confirm whether the prostate is enlarged. The urologist also needs to work out whether there’s significant urinary blockage, bladder dysfunction, infection, or some other underlying issue causing the symptoms.

Treatment of an Enlarged Prostate in Abuja

Just as anywhere else, treating an enlarged prostate in Abuja depends on how severe the symptoms are, the size of the prostate, the degree of urinary obstruction, any complications present, and the patient’s overall health.

Treatment options include:

• Lifestyle adjustments
• Watchful waiting or ongoing monitoring
• Medication
• TURP
• Bipolar enucleation
• ThuFLEP
• HoLEP
• Other minimally invasive or surgical techniques

No single treatment fits every man — the urologist assesses each patient individually before recommending a course of action.

Medications for an Enlarged Prostate

Medication is usually the first line of treatment for mild to moderate symptoms. Options include:

Alpha blockers — these relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and prostate, making urination easier. Common examples are alfuzosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, silodosin and terazosin. They tend to act quickly, especially in men with smaller prostates. Possible side effects include dizziness, and a harmless condition called retrograde ejaculation, where semen flows backward into the bladder instead of out.

5-alpha reductase inhibitors — these shrink the prostate over time by blocking the hormonal changes that cause it to grow. Finasteride and dutasteride are typical examples. They can take up to six months to show full effect and may cause sexual side effects.

Combination therapy — sometimes a doctor will prescribe an alpha blocker together with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor if neither works well enough alone.

Certain medications commonly used for erectile dysfunction have also been shown, in some studies, to help with enlarged prostate symptoms.

Surgery and Other Procedures for an Enlarged Prostate

Surgery or another procedure may be worth considering if you:

• Aren’t getting enough relief from medication
• Would rather avoid medication altogether
• Are unable to urinate at all
• Have developed kidney problems
• Keep experiencing bladder stones, blood in the urine, or recurring UTIs

On the other hand, a procedure might not be suitable if you have:

• An untreated urinary tract infection
• Urethral stricture disease
• A history of prostate radiation therapy or urinary tract surgery
• A neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis

Every prostate procedure carries some risk of side effects, which can include semen flowing backward into the bladder during ejaculation, occasional urine leakage, or urinary tract infection.

There are several surgical and procedural options for treating an enlarged prostate:

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
A thin, lighted instrument called a scope is passed through the urethra, and the surgeon removes all but the outer portion of the prostate. TURP typically brings quick symptom relief, and many patients notice a stronger urine flow soon afterward. A catheter is usually needed for a short period following the procedure.

Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP)
A lighted scope is inserted into the urethra, and the surgeon makes one or two small incisions in the prostate to widen the passage for urine. This option suits men with a smaller or only mildly enlarged prostate, or those whose health makes larger surgeries too risky.

Bipolar Enucleation of the Prostate
Designed for very large prostates, this procedure completely separates the enlarged prostate tissue from its outer capsule using bipolar energy.

Laser Therapy
A high-powered laser is used to destroy or remove excess prostate tissue. Laser techniques generally carry a lower risk of side effects compared to non-laser surgery, and may be suitable for patients on blood-thinning medication who can’t safely undergo other procedures.

Laser therapy includes two broad categories:

• Enucleative procedures — considered the best approach for very large prostates, these completely clear out the enlarged tissue. They include Thulium Fiber Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (ThuFLEP), the newest laser technique available, and Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). Both remove all the tissue obstructing urine flow and help prevent regrowth. The removed tissue can also be examined afterward for prostate cancer or other concerns.
• Ablative procedures — these destroy the tissue blocking urine flow rather than removing it entirely. Examples include Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) and holmium laser ablation. These can cause some post-surgery irritation, and in rare cases, a second procedure may eventually be needed.

Open or Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy
This involves one or more incisions in the lower abdomen, giving the surgeon direct access to remove prostate tissue. It’s generally reserved for very large prostates and usually requires a short hospital stay. There’s also a higher risk of needing a blood transfusion due to bleeding during this type of surgery.

Follow-Up Care

The follow-up plan depends on which technique was used to treat the enlarged prostate. Your doctor will advise which activities to avoid, and for how long, during recovery.

Enlarged Prostate Treatment in Abuja at Eleos Specialist Hospital

Our urologists at Eleos Specialist Hospital, Dawaki Extension, Abuja, are trained in a wide range of state-of-the-art technology for treating an enlarged prostate. Patients across Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory — including Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Wuse and Garki — have access to the latest noninvasive laser treatments, including ThuFLEP, HoLEP and Bipolar Enucleation, without needing to travel outside the city.

Our care team will walk you through the full range of treatment options and help you choose the approach best suited to your symptoms.

To book a consultation, call Eleos Specialist Hospital on 07066244467.