Urolift: New Treatment Option for Enlarged Prostate

When men reach a certain age, problems with the prostate become fairly common. More than 70% of men in their 60s have symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – a total of more than 500 million men worldwide.

Most symptoms of BPH stem from obstruction of the urethra and a gradual loss of bladder function. The most common symptoms involve changes or problems with urination, such as:

• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Interrupted or weak urine stream
• Urine dribbling or leakage
• More frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate, especially at night.

While BPH is a non-cancerous condition, it can cause a loss of productivity and sleep, depression and decreased quality of life.

A new treatment provides an option for local patients: UroLift, the first permanent implant for the symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate.

The UroLift System permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive procedure, act like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open. This simple process does not require any cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue. Patients recover from the procedure quickly, and return to their normal routines with little downtime.

Results from clinical trials showed that patients receiving UroLift implants reported rapid improvement of their symptoms, including improved urinary flow rates, and sustained sexual function. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life.

If you notice symptoms of BPH, notify your physician to ensure you receive a prostate exam as part of your next routine checkup. Though the need for treatment is not usually urgent, the issue should be raised before it becomes bothersome or presents a health risk.