Alternative treatment may allow men to stop using medication for enlarged prostate

Did you know that on average Americans over the age of 45 take four prescription medications daily? According to the IMS Health Institute for Healthcare Informatics, Americans spend over $200 billion annually on unnecessary medications.²

Although some diseases require medication, thanks to recent advancements, conditions like enlarged prostate, also known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), can now be treated with procedures that may allow men to stop taking medication.

Enlarged prostate is a common condition that primarily affects men over the age of 50, with many of those men experiencing an onset of symptoms as early as 40. These symptoms, such as the strong need to urinate or the inability to completely empty the bladder, only increase as men get older. 

A recent survey found that approximately half of men diagnosed with enlarged prostate take medication to treat their symptoms, yet some are unhappy with the results. Physicians often prescribe alpha blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to help reduce the symptoms of enlarged prostate. Unfortunately, these medications can pose new side effects.

Alpha blockers treat symptoms by relaxing the bladder muscles but also come with risks and negative side effects. Many patients experience dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, lightheadedness or headaches. Alpha blockers have also been linked to sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction not only impacts a man’s quality of life but can also complicate their partner’s happiness.³


5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used to shrink the prostate by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and preventing hormonal changes. While some men may benefit from 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, the medication may be linked to the development of breast cancer in men and often requires long-term use to see results.⁴

Here’s the good news: there is now a proven treatment that may allow men to stop taking medication and can enhance their quality of life without the risk of invasive surgery. The UroLift® System is available to men throughout the United States and can be done in an office setting. The UroLift System procedure for enlarged prostate also preserves sexual function.^*5,6

References:
*No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction

1.  Barrett, Linda L. “Prescription Drug Use Among Midlife and Older Americans.” AARP, 2005, assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/rx_midlife_plus.pdf.
2. Appleby, Julie. “Improper Use of Prescription Drugs Costs $200 Billion a Year, Report Finds.” Medscape, 2013, www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806673
3. Mayo Clinic. (2019, January 9). Alpha Blockers. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/alpha-blockers/art-20044214
4. Belknap, Steven M. “Article Tools.” American Society of Clinical Oncology Journals, ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.2532.
5. McVary, J Sex Med 2014
6. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013 LIFT Study

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