Prostate problems

There are several health issues that can cause prostate problems. Two conditions that affect your prostate gland are:

Prostate enlargement.
Prostate cancer

Prostate enlargement

This condition is sometimes called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It is more common in older men, and is not cancerous. As men get older, the male hormone, testosterone, can cause an increase in the growth of your prostate cells. This makes the prostate gland enlarge. Symptoms of prostate enlargement include:

Frequency – you may pass urine more often.
Urgency – you need to get to the toilet quickly.
Less flow – you may have a poor stream of urine.
Hesitancy – you have to wait for the urine to start.
Dribbling – sometimes urine may trickle out after you’ve finished at the toilet.
Poor emptying – you feel you have not quite emptied your bladder.

How we can help if your prostate is enlarged

We begin with tests to help us diagnose the problem. It’s important to make an accurate diagnosis to ensure we can offer the best treatment, so there’s a wide range of tests that we can use. These include examination of the prostate by rectal examination, blood and urine tests, and ultrasound.

Treatment of this condition varies depending on your symptoms. Some of the treatments available are:

Drug or alternative medicine treatments, which would be advised by your consultant.
Surgery to reduce the size of the prostate gland by removing tissue.
A tube (catheter) in the bladder to drain urine.

Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. The causes are not clear, but we do know that if you have a male family member that has been diagnosed with the disease, there is an increased risk of you developing it. And the risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. See us for a check-up if you:

Have lower back pain.
Feel pain in the hips or pelvis.
Have any of the urine-related symptoms

Related tests and scans

Blood test

Waiting for blood tests and results can be an anxious time. If you’ve been referred by a GP for a test and don’t want to worry or wait, Nuffield Health can help. Our national network of fully accredited laboratories delivers fast, reliable results at a competitive price – wherever you are in the UK.

Cystoscopy

Get rapid access to a cystoscopy at our Nuffield Health Hospital's. Our experienced urologists all specialise in this diagnostic procedure.

Fine needle biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure to remove and examine a sample of tissue from a lump or suspicious area of the body.

Image guided aspiration and biopsy

MRI scan

An MRI is a type of scan that creates detailed images of the inside of your body. Your doctor or healthcare professional has recommended an MRI scan because it is the best way to make an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

Prostate screening

Many men from the age of 50 upwards experience bladder discomfort as a result of an enlarged prostate gland.

Rectal examination under anaesthetic (or rectal EUA)

If an examination of your rectum (back passage) is too painful or your consultant needs to treat an area of your rectum, you may be given general anaesthetic.

Related treatments and procedures

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy can be used to eradicate prostate cancer, as well as to treat skin lesions and sun spots

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)

HoLEP is a minimally invasive procedure that removes tissue from your prostate that is causing obstruction.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy for cancer uses medicines to block or lower the amount of hormones in the body to stop or slow down the growth of cancer.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a form of keyhole surgery for prostate cancer.

Laparoscopic urology

Pelvic surgery

Prostate laser treatment

Photoselective Vaporisation of Prostate using a laser is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Prostate resection (TURP)

A prostate resection involves removing prostate tissue to relieve the pressure on your urethra.

Prostate surgery

Prostate surgery involves reducing the size of the prostate gland.

Prostatic Urethral Lift

A prostate urethral lift is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat an enlarged prostate.

Radical prostatectomy

A radical prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate gland, sometimes with the nearby lymphatic glands.

Rezum for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Rezūm is a treatment for BPH. It uses the stored thermal energy in water vapor (steam) to treat the extra prostate tissue that is causing symptoms such as frequency, urgency, irregular flow, weak stream, straining and getting up at night to urinate.