Treatments Overview
Treating the symptoms of BPH is not necessary unless symptoms are bothersome or some complication exists that places the urinary system at risk. Men who suffer from mild symptoms are usually advised to use watchful waiting.
For a man with moderate-to-severe symptoms, alpha-blocker drugs that specifically target prostate muscle contraction are usually the initial treatment. These drugs are less expensive, work faster, and address symptoms better than the enzyme inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride, which reduce the size of the glandular tissue. But for a man who has a palpably enlarged prostate and does not respond to alpha-blockers, enzyme inhibitors are usually prescribed.
Because good medications are available and the use of herbs, such as saw palmetto to treat mild symptoms, is more widely accepted, surgery -- including new, minimally invasive techniques -- is declining in use. Other surgical approaches, such as balloon dilation and hyperthermia, are used primarily as temporary fixes.
