What’s an enlarged prostate?

The size of a normal prostate is about 10-15 grams. As men age, the prostate gland grows under the control of male hormones. As the gland grows, there is increased resistance to the flow of urine because the urine channel (the urethra) becomes narrower. As a result, the bladder must work harder to be able to empty urine completely. As the bladder muscle works harder to urinate, its walls change under stress. At times, scar tissue replaces the healthy tissue making the bladder unable to contract normally. This can result in an inability to empty properly, recurrent urinary tract infections, and bladder stones. In other cases, the wall becomes thin in areas resulting outpouchings, called diverticula. These can result in urinary stasis resulting in urinary tract infections, bladder stones, chronic irritation and rarely become an incubator for bladder cancer.

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate gland. Inflammation can be caused by bacterial infections, viruses and sometimes no specific cause can be found. When the cause is bacterial, long-term treatment with antibiotics usually provides symptom relief. Acutely, symptoms can present like a urinary tract infection or pain between the scrotum and the anus. Chronic pain can be anywhere within the pelvis, and like orchialgia, treatment can involve pain medications, anti-inflammatories, supplements and physical therapy.

What’s a PSA screening?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Many cases are an indolent and low grade, in younger patients, however (between the ages of 40-65), cancers can be aggressive and require treatment. Detection and Screening for prostate cancer detection is done through a digital rectal exam (DRE) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Dr. Movassaghi recognizes that not all prostate cancers should be treated the same. Individual recommendations are made based on a patient’s age, health history and aggressiveness of the disease. Treatment modalities include active surveillance, surgery, radiation, hormones, chemotherapy or a combination of the above.

UroLift^® System

What is the UroLift System?

The UroLift® System treatment is a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach to treating an enlarged prostate, or BPH, that lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue.

Clinical data has shown that the UroLift System treatment is safe and effective in relieving lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH without compromising sexual function^1,4. The goal of the UroLift System treatment is to relieve symptoms so you can get back to your life and resume your daily activities.

Most common side effects are light blood in the urine, some pain or discomfort when urinating, some increased urge to go and discomfort in the pelvis that typically resolve within two to four weeks after the procedure. 

Advantages of the UroLift System:

• Rapid symptom relief, better than reported for medications²
• Risk profile better than reported for surgical procedures such as TURP³
• Preservation of sexual function¹
• Return to normal activity in days not months
• Increased quality of life
• No ongoing BPH medications
• 19 clinical study publications; 4 years published clinical data⁴

How the UroLift works:

The UroLift System treatment is a straightforward procedure that is performed by a urologist. The urologist places tiny implants to hold the prostate lobes apart, like open curtains on a window, to relieve compression on the urethra. This allows urine to flow normally again. The UroLift System treatment can be done in the physician’s office under local anesthesia. Typically, patients return home the same day without a catheter.

What is TURP?

TURP is generally considered an option for men with moderate to severe urinary problems that haven't responded to medication. Traditionally, TURP has been considered the most effective treatment for an enlarged prostate.