Dr. Ashley Tapscott

Ashley Tapscott, DO Ashley Tapscott, DO

 

Enlarged Prostate Doctor in Charlotte

Dr. Tapscott is Fellowship-Trained at The Cleveland Clinic

As men age, it is very common for their prostate to continue growing larger, which will often cause issues between ages 50 and 60, and beyond.

An enlarged prostate is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH and is a condition in men where a prostate has grown large enough to exceed its natural boundaries and begin to push down on the urethra. Dr. Tapscott is a fellowship-trained, board-certified urologist, with extensive experience diagnosing and treating patients for BPH.

What is BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition in which the prostate enlarges as men get older. BPH is a very common condition that affects over 42 million men in the US1 and over 660 million aging men worldwide.2.3 Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s have BPH.2 While BPH is a benign condition and unrelated to prostate cancer, it can greatly affect a man’s quality of life.

As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing bothersome urinary symptoms. If left untreated, BPH can lead to permanent bladder damage.4 

Symptoms include:5,6

  • Frequent need to urinate both day and night
  • Weak or slow urinary stream
  • A sense that you cannot completely empty your bladder
  • Difficulty or delay in starting urination
  • Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
  • A urinary stream that stops and starts

Symptoms of BPH can cause loss of productivity, depression, and decreased quality of life.7

If you suffer from the above symptoms, you are not alone. BPH is the leading reason men visit a urologist.8

You can measure the severity of your BPH symptoms by taking the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Sharing this information with your physician will help them understand the severity of your symptoms.

normal prostate vs protate with BPH

Even watchful waiting has its risks. Bladder outlet obstruction could result in irreversible bladder damage if left untreated4

Bladder and Enlarged Prostate

References

  1. NeoTract US Market Model estimates for 2020, data on file.
  2. Berry, et al., Journal of Urology 1984
  3. US Census Bureau international database worldwide population estimates for 2020
  4. Tubaro, Drugs Aging 2003
  5. Rosenberg, Int J Clin Pract 2007
  6. Vuichoud, Can J Urol 2015
  7. Speakman, BJUI International 2014
  8. IMS Health NDTI Urology Specialty Profile Report 2013

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What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

The prostate is a small gland about the size of a ping pong ball that’s located deep inside the groin, between the rectum and the base of the penis. The enlargement of the prostate gland (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) becomes more prevalent as men get older. Most men near Manhattan have continued prostate growth throughout their life.

Certain symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:

  • Urgent or frequent need to urinate
  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Weak urine stream
  • Inability to completely empty your bladder
  • More frequent urination during the night (nocturia)
  • Your urethra passes through the center of your prostate and prostate enlargement can block the flow of urine.

Some less common symptoms of an enlarged prostate include blood in the urine, urinary tract infections, and an inability to urinate.

What are my chances of having problems with BPH?

It’s estimated that about half of men over age 50 are affected by problems related to BPH. After the age of 80, that number grows up to 90 percent of men.

Other factors that increase your risk of BPH include:

  • Obesity
  • Family history of prostate problems in a brother or father
  • Personal medical history of diabetes or heart disease
  • Use of certain medications, such as beta-blockers for high blood pressure