Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, simply means an enlarged prostate gland. If you are a male and over the age of 45, you most likely know about this condition, as it affects men as they age and causes a number of symptoms. If you are waking up at night to pee, you may be wondering if it could be due to BPH.
Waking Up to Pee
If you find yourself waking up to pee once a night, it could be because you had that last drink or cup of coffee too close to bedtime. However, if it is happening four or five times per night, this annoying occurrence is most likely BPH.
A normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, but it begins to enlarge as a man gets older. This increase in size affects your bladder and urethra and blocks the flow of urine through the urethra. Don’t be concerned about cancer, as the word benign means non-cancerous.
Other Symptoms of BPH
An enlarged prostate leads to multiple symptoms besides waking up to pee several times each night.
They include the following:
- Having a frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Difficulty beginning to pee
- A weak stream, or one that stops and starts
- Dribbling after peeing
- Incontinence
- A feeling you haven’t completely emptied your bladder
- Pain after urination or ejaculation
- Urine that has an unusual color or smell
If you have any of these symptoms, consult with Miguel Mercado, M.D. as it could be due to BPH or another urological condition.
Is Treatment for BPH Necessary?
An enlarged prostate can be left untreated if the symptoms are very mild and the patient is not bothered by them.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see Miguel Mercado, M.D. for an evaluation if you have symptoms. Sometimes BPH can lead to frequent urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and kidney damage when urine back flows from the bladder into the kidneys.
For mild to moderate symptoms, Miguel Mercado, M.D. may recommend lifestyle and diet changes like avoiding drinking coffee, tea, or alcohol, especially before bedtime. Stopping or reducing smoking can help too.
In addition, there are medications to reduce symptoms of BPH, as well as minimally invasive treatments and procedures.
Contact Miguel Mercado, M.D. at (281) 351-5174 to schedule an evaluation in The Woodlands, TX if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of BPH.