Enlarged Prostate (BPH): Don’t Let Urinary Symptoms Slow You Down

For men in Boulder County and surrounding communities, urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate can get in the way of an active lifestyle. Understanding the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and seeking an evaluation early can help you explore the full range of treatment options, from monitoring and medication to minimally invasive procedures such as Aquablation®.

Getting up several times each night to use the bathroom. Planning road trips around restroom stops. Passing on a long hike or bike ride because you’re worried you won’t make it to the next bathroom.

Many men assume these changes are simply part of getting older.

They aren’t.

These are common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. While BPH affects about half of men between ages 51 and 60 and up to 90% of men over age 80, you don’t have to live with the symptoms.

Treatment options range from monitoring and medication to advanced minimally invasive procedures. Understanding your options early can help you find the right approach for your symptoms, health, and lifestyle, and get back to the activities you enjoy.

BPH: Don’t Wait Until Symptoms Become Severe

One of the biggest misconceptions about BPH is that urinary symptoms aren’t serious enough to mention to a doctor.

Because symptoms usually develop gradually, many men adapt. They accept interrupted sleep, learn where every restroom is, or avoid activities that take them too far from a bathroom.

But BPH is typically progressive.

As the prostate slowly enlarges, it can place increasing pressure on the urethra, making it more difficult for urine to leave the bladder. Over time, symptoms may worsen. In some men, prolonged obstruction can eventually lead to urinary retention, bladder stones, recurrent urinary tract infections, bladder damage, or even kidney damage.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until symptoms become severe to talk with a urologist.

Common symptoms of BPH include:

• Frequent urination
• Waking several times each night to urinate
• A weak urine stream
• Difficulty starting urination
• Feeling like your bladder doesn’t empty completely
• Sudden urinary urgency

Why Early Evaluation Matters

An appointment with a urologist doesn’t automatically mean you’ll need surgery, or even medication.

Early evaluation can establish a baseline for your symptoms, making it easier to monitor changes over time and identify when treatment may be appropriate. It also allows you to understand the full range of BPH treatment options, from monitoring and medication to minimally invasive procedures, and address worsening urinary obstruction before complications develop.

Early evaluation may help:

• Address bothersome symptoms before they become more limiting
• Avoid or delay long-term medication for some men
• Explore alternatives if you are already taking BPH medication and would like to stop
• Improve sleep, comfort, and quality of life
• Reduce the risk of complications associated with long-standing urinary obstruction
• Help you return to the activities you enjoy without constantly planning around the nearest restroom

Aquablation®: A Minimally Invasive Treatment for BPH

For men considering treatment beyond medication, Aquablation therapy is a minimally invasive option designed to provide long-lasting relief from BPH symptoms while minimizing the risk of permanent urinary and sexual side effects.

Aquablation uses real-time ultrasound imaging and a precisely controlled, heat-free waterjet to remove the prostate tissue causing urinary obstruction. Unlike procedures that use surgical heat, Aquablation allows the surgeon to precisely target obstructing tissue while helping preserve surrounding structures involved in urinary and sexual function.

Board-certified urologists Tomy Perez, MD, and Stephen Siegel, MD, are among the nation’s leading Aquablation physicians based on the number of procedures performed.

For Dr. Siegel, the results he sees in his patients are what make the procedure stand out.

“Aquablation is one of the most gratifying procedures I perform,” he says. “Men come back to my clinic genuinely happy with the results.”

That improvement can extend well beyond urinary symptoms. Many men gradually change their routines around BPH without realizing how much the condition has affected their daily lives.

“Many men don’t realize how much they’ve adapted their lives around urinary symptoms until those symptoms are gone,” says Dr. Perez. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see patients get back to the activities that matter most to them.”

Proven Clinical Results

Clinical studies have shown that Aquablation provides durable symptom relief while maintaining an excellent safety profile across prostates of nearly all sizes and shapes.

Research has demonstrated:

• No meaningful long-term impact on erectile function
• Approximately 90% preservation of ejaculatory function
• About 99% of patients remain continent after treatment
• Long-lasting improvement in urinary symptoms with low retreatment rates

Personalized Treatment for Every Prostate

Every prostate is different in size and shape, which is why Aquablation therapy is designed around each patient’s unique anatomy.

Using real-time ultrasound imaging, the surgeon creates a personalized treatment plan to identify the prostate tissue causing urinary obstruction precisely. Aquablation then uses a precisely controlled, heat-free waterjet to remove the targeted tissue and restore urine flow.

Drs. Perez and Siegel now perform Aquablation using the newly available HYDROS™ Robotic System, the latest generation of Aquablation technology. HYDROS combines advanced imaging with AI-powered treatment planning to further enhance the surgeon’s ability to plan and customize each procedure.

Benefits of Aquablation Therapy

• Long-lasting symptom relief: Durable improvement in urinary symptoms with low retreatment rates.
• Very low risk of permanent urinary or sexual side effects: Helps preserve erectile function, ejaculatory function, and urinary continence.
• An alternative to long-term medication and more invasive surgery: Aquablation may be an option for men who want to avoid starting long-term daily BPH medication, those already taking medication who would like to stop, or those seeking a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
• Treats obstruction before complications develop: Addressing BPH before symptoms become severe may help reduce the risk of urinary retention, bladder damage, bladder stones, recurrent urinary tract infections, and, in advanced cases, kidney damage caused by long-standing urinary obstruction.
• Effective for nearly any size or shape prostate: Aquablation may be an option for men who are not candidates for other minimally invasive procedures.
• No external incisions: The procedure is performed without external incisions.
• Quick recovery: Most men return to many normal activities within a few days, helping them get back to work, travel, exercise, and the active lifestyle they enjoy.

What to Expect After Aquablation

Most men go home the same day or spend one night in the hospital and return home the following day. During the first several days after treatment, it’s normal to experience:

• Mild urinary urgency
• Blood in the urine
• Slight burning during urination
• Mild pelvic discomfort

Patients typically return to many of their normal daily activities within a few days, while continuing to heal over the following weeks.

Let’s Talk

You don’t have to wait until BPH symptoms become severe or until medication stops working to see a urologist. An early evaluation can help you understand your options and decide which approach best fits your symptoms, health, and personal goals.

Learn more about BMC Urology and make an appointment in Boulder or Louisville