Relief Without the Guesswork
Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
An enlarged prostate affects roughly half of men by age 60 and the large majority by 80. At Texas Regional Urology, our board-certified urologists treat benign prostatic hyperplasia with everything from medication to in-office, minimally invasive procedures — at our offices in The Woodlands, Tomball, and Kingwood.
What is BPH?
Understanding Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube urine passes through on its way out of the body. As men age, the prostate gradually enlarges, and because of where it sits, that growth squeezes the urethra and makes the bladder work harder to empty. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is not cancer and does not become cancer, but the two conditions can produce similar symptoms and can exist at the same time, which is why evaluation matters. Left untreated, significant BPH can lead to bladder damage, urinary retention, recurrent infections, and kidney problems.
How Would I Know If I Had BPH?
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate
The most common symptoms are a weak or interrupted urine stream, difficulty starting urination, straining, dribbling at the end, and a persistent sense that the bladder never fully empties. Many men also notice urgency, frequency, and waking two or more times a night to urinate. Symptom severity does not reliably match prostate size — some men with modestly enlarged prostates are miserable, while others with very large ones barely notice. Sudden inability to urinate at all is a medical emergency and requires immediate care.
How is BPH Diagnosed?
How We Diagnose BPH
Evaluation starts with a detailed symptom history, often scored using the AUA Symptom Index so we can measure change over time. We perform a digital rectal exam to assess prostate size and texture, a urinalysis to rule out infection or blood, and a PSA test, since prostate enlargement raises PSA and cancer must be excluded. Depending on findings, we may add a uroflow study to measure stream strength, a bladder scan to measure how much urine remains after you go, or cystoscopy to look directly at the urethra and bladder. Together these tell us how obstructed you are and which treatments are likely to help.
Why Choose Texas Regional Urology for BPH Care?
Why Patients Choose TRU
Here is what we can do
BPH Treatment Options at Texas Regional Urology
The right treatment depends on how much your symptoms bother you, how obstructed your bladder actually is, and how you feel about medication side effects versus a procedure. Mild symptoms often need nothing more than monitoring and a few changes to fluid timing. Moderate symptoms usually respond well to medication. And for men who want off their pills, or whose symptoms persist despite them, today's minimally invasive options deliver lasting relief without the recovery that prostate surgery once required. Our urologists will explain what each option realistically offers you and what it costs you in trade-offs.
Medication
Alpha-blockers relax the muscle around the bladder neck to improve flow, often within days. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors shrink the prostate over several months and work best for larger glands. These are frequently used together, and we monitor for side effects including dizziness, changes in ejaculation, and effects on sexual function.
UroLift
The UroLift system uses small implants to hold the enlarged prostate tissue open, relieving obstruction without cutting, heating, or removing tissue. It is performed in the office, typically preserves sexual function, and most men return to normal activity within a few days.
Rezum
Rezum uses targeted water vapor to reduce excess prostate tissue, which the body then reabsorbs over the following weeks. It is an in-office procedure with lasting results and is a strong option for men who want durable relief without daily medication.
TURP and TUIP
For larger prostates or men who need definitive treatment, transurethral resection of the prostate removes the obstructing tissue from the inside, with no external incision. Transurethral incision of the prostate is a smaller procedure suited to more modestly enlarged glands. Both are performed under anesthesia and offer substantial, long-lasting improvement in flow.
Answers to your BPH Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No — BPH is not cancer.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is non-cancerous growth and does not turn into prostate cancer, though the two can produce overlapping symptoms and can occur together. Because BPH also raises PSA levels, we evaluate both possibilities rather than assuming.
Not necessarily — procedures offer lasting relief.
Medications control symptoms only as long as you keep taking them, and many men eventually tire of the cost or side effects. Urolift and Rezum are designed to provide durable improvement without daily pills.
It depends on which treatment you choose.
Some BPH medications commonly affect ejaculation and, less often, libido or erectile function, and TURP frequently causes retrograde ejaculation. Urolift was specifically designed to preserve sexual function, which is one reason many men choose it.
Days, not weeks.
Both are office-based procedures performed under local anesthesia or light sedation, and most men return to routine activity within a few days. A temporary catheter is common after Rezum, and mild urinary irritation for a week or two is normal with either.
Symptoms usually worsen over time.
Untreated obstruction forces the bladder to overwork, which can lead to bladder damage, stones, infections, and eventually the inability to urinate at all. Evaluation is worthwhile even if you have decided against treatment for now.
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