The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are similar to the symptoms associated with prostate cancer. This is why it’s important to look out for signs and symptoms, and seek medical advice if you experience any of the following:
- finding it difficult to start peeing
- having a weak flow of urine
- “stop-start” peeing
- needing to pee urgently and/or more regularly than usual
- needing to get up frequently in the night to pee
- accidentally leaking urine (urinary incontinence)
Not everyone with an enlarged prostate will experience symptoms, and some people’s symptoms will be so mild that they don’t affect their life. The important thing is to be aware of the symptoms and if you are experiencing any, seek medical advice.
You are more likely to develop an enlarged prostate if you are over the age of 50, with the risk increasing as you get older.
Research also indicates that genetics may play a part and you are more at risk of developing an enlarged prostate if your father or brother has one.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure that involves removing part of the prostate gland to alleviate the urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.
The procedure is usually carried out using a device called a resectoscope. This is a small metal tube containing a light, camera and loop of wire. The surgeon will insert the resectoscope into your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) before directing it to the enlarged area of your prostate, with the help of the light and the camera. Then, an electric current is used to heat the loop of wire, and this is used to cut away a section of your prostate.
TURP has been traditionally been regarded as the most effective treatment for an enlarged prostate, but there have recently been a surge in new minimally invasive procedures being developed, which are just as effective and tend to have less side effects.
Prostate laser surgery is used to relieve the urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia). These symptoms can include difficulty starting to pee, frequent needing to pee and difficulty fully emptying your bladder.
During prostate laser surgery, your consultant will insert a scope through the tip of your penis into the tube that carries urine from your bladder (your urethra). A laser is then passed through the scope and uses concentrated light and energy to shrink or remove the excess prostate tissue that is causing the issues with peeing.
At the Cromwell we offer two types of laser surgery to treat an enlarged prostate. They work in slightly different ways, and which one is right for you will depend on your personal circumstance:
- GreenLight laser surgery – the laser is directed through the urethra and up to the level of the prostate, where it then quickly and gently vapourises (destroys) the surplus prostate tissue, without harming other healthy tissue
- Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) – the laser is used to cut and remove the excess tissue that is blocking the flow of urine. Another instrument is then used to cut the prostate tissue into little pieces that can then be safely removed.
As laser surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon can remove a large amount of tissue without any incisions on the body, decreasing the risk of blood and healthy tissue loss. It also means that your hospital stay is short, and you should recover faster, when compared to traditional treatments for an enlarged prostate.
This procedure uses steam to remove the enlarged part of your prostate. The steam is delivered to your prostate using an instrument inserted through your urethra, the steam energy then destroys the obstructive prostate tissue causing the urinary symptoms.
The procedure often lasts less than ten minutes and generally you will be in and out of hospital within one day.
We are one of the few hospitals in the UK to perform this innovative new procedure outside of a clinical trial setting.
Clinical interests: Professor Ahmed has received the BMJ Award for Innovation 2015 for his group's work in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis of prostate cancer Advice on PSA screening. Advice on prostate cancer risk for men with a family history or other risk factors. Multi-parametric MRI. MRI-guided biopsies, transperineal template biopsies, image-fusion prostate biopsies). Biopsies under local anaesthetic, sedation or general anaesthetic Treatment of Prostate Cancer Focal therapy, HIFU, cryotherapy, active surveillance. Second opinion on treatment options. Member of Multi-disciplinary team meetings for case discussions of all prostate cancer cases. Diagnosis and management and treatment of men with urinary symptoms Benign prostate hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms. Treatment using bipolar TURP, laser, Uro-lift, medical management, self management Diagnosis and management of patients with blood in the urine (haematuria).
Languages spoken: Bengali/English
Clinical interests: Mr El-Husseiny is an experienced consultant urological surgeon, in addition to general urology he sub-specialises in the diagnosis and management of kidney stones, Endourology (minimally invasive surgery) such as ureteroscopy and laser stone fragmentation, PCNL (keyhole surgery for kidney stones) and is one of a handful of urologists in the country performing this complex procedure in the supine position and also performing his own access. HoLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate), Urolift and Endourological management of upper tract urothelial cancer. He treats other upper tract abnormalities, including strictures and extrinsic obstruction and has special expertise in the use of different types of urological stents.
Languages spoken: Arabic/English
Clinical interests: Professor Heer has extensive experience across the full breadth of general urology. He has specialist interests focused on all aspects of management for prostate and bladder cancer. In particular, he has a reputable high volume robotic surgery practice for prostatectomy (removal of the prostate for cancer), cystectomy (removal of the bladder), and urinary tract reconstruction (ileal conduits and orthotopic bladders). Professor Heer provides excellent surgical outcomes, benchmarked against national standards (BAUS and National Prostate Cancer Audits). He also provides care for male sexual dysfunction, which can follow with these major surgeries.
Languages spoken: English
Miss Stella Ivaz
/ Consultant Urological Surgeon
Urology, Andrology, General, Female urology, Reconstructive surgery
Clinical interests: Urine incontinence in men and women; lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women; overactive bladder; erectile dysfunction and male sexual dysfunction; penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease, congenital curvature); urethral stricture disease and pelvic fracture urethral injury; penile, testicular and scrotal conditions; foreskin problems; phimosis (circumcision); vasectomy; Rezum; benign prostatic enlargement (TURP); urethral, bladder and ureteric reconstruction; uro-rectal fistulae and vesico-vaginal fistulae; artificial urinary sphincter surgery for incontinence.
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: Investigation and treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms: Lead for Gold standard Holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP). Offers minimally invasive treatments such as including Rezum and Urolift. Investigation for raised PSA, haematuria and UTIs. Investigation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction including male fertility, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and microsurgery for Varicoceles (enlarged veins around testes). Lead in management of scrotal lesions including testicular cancer.
Languages spoken: English/Hindi/Punjabi
Clinical interests: Female urology, stone disease, benign prostate disease
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: Keyhole kidney and laser stone surgery (endourology) prostate problems both benign and cancer related offering prostate cancer screening, prostate surgery including green light laser surgery for benign prostatic enlargement, all general urological conditions in men and women including urinary infections, blood in the urine, penile and testicular problems as well as bladder problems.
Languages spoken: English/Hindi/Punjabi/Urdu
Clinical interests: General Urology, urinary symptoms, prostate problems, scrotal lumps, blood in the urine, suspected cancer in kidney, prostate, bladder or testes, kidney stones, abnormal PSA, second opinion on cancer diagnosis and management and laraparaoscopic pelvic cancer surgery
Languages spoken: English/German
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