About 50 percent of men in their 50s have enlarged prostates. This condition affects 80 percent of men by age 80. An enlarged prostate does not always cause symptoms, but it can cause inconvenient issues, like frequent nighttime urination, so consider treatment or medication.

Does an Enlarged Prostate Increase Cancer Risk?

Many people assume an enlarged prostate will develop into cancer, but this is not true. The medical term for an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and hormones are likely the cause. BPH does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer in the future either.

Not all men develop an enlarged prostate, but men are at risk of developing BPH if they …

• Have a family history of BPH.
• Are older than 40.
• Have a medical condition of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity or circulatory disease.
• Are sedentary.
• Have erectile dysfunction.
• Have kidney disease.

What Are the Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate?

One of the first symptoms of BPH is problems emptying the bladder. As the prostate grows larger, it presses on the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. This pressure makes the bladder muscles exert more force to move the flow of urine through the urethra. This can cause difficulty starting a urine steam, an interrupted urine stream or dribbling at the end of urination.

As the bladder muscles weaken, it is more difficult to empty the bladder. Urinary retention as well as the prostate pressing on the bladder causes urinary frequency and urinary urgency. BPH can also cause nocturia, or frequent urination at night.

How Can You Tell If It’s BPH or Another Health Problem?

A urologist can diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia by performing a physical exam, doing medical tests and collecting a family medical history. If you are experiencing symptoms of BPH, you should keep a medical journal to note the types of symptoms, how often they occur, what medications you take and your typical diet. Be sure to include the types of beverages you drink, especially caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.

Your doctor may use urinalysis, prostate tests, transrectal ultrasound or cystoscopy to diagnose a condition.

Other medical conditions can cause urination problems as well. A urinary tract infection (UTI) can also cause increased frequency and urgency in urination as well as leakage. A UTI often causes pain and burning, and sometimes the urine can appear cloudy or smell bad.

Other conditions that have similar symptoms to an enlarged prostate are overactive bladder, kidney stones, bladder stones, pelvic floor problems, urethral stricture, pelvic floor muscle spasms and neurogenic bladder.

Make an Appointment with Your Urologist about Treatment Options for BPH

You don’t have to live with urinary discomfort. One appointment could provide relief of your symptoms. You could begin sleeping more soundly at night and reducing your visits to the bathroom.

Multiple conditions may lead you to seek treatment and, possibly, surgery. For 40 years, patients have received safe, high-quality outpatient surgical procedures with increased savings and convenience at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country.

Our ASC is committed to providing a great patient experience, with highly professional service and the most advanced technologies available. Patients are discharged from our facility the same day as the procedure and recover at home.

Call today to make an appointment for a consultation. Early treatment will reduce the effects of an enlarged prostate, allowing you an improved quality of life.

A urinary tract infection (UTI), also known as a bladder infection or cystitis, is a common condition that can cause anything from mild inconvenience to a serious health emergency.

There are two types of UTIs: uncomplicated and complicated. Uncomplicated UTIs develop in healthy people with normal urinary tracts.

Complicated UTIs can affect the kidneys and ureters, posing a serious health risk.

This kind of bladder infection may affect men, expectant mothers, those with compromised immune systems and individuals who recently underwent surgery.

Below are four key facts you need to know about urinary tract infections.

Bacteria Causes UTIs

A urinary tract infection can involve any part of the urinary system: bladder, urethra, ureters or kidney.

You can have a urinary tract infection without showing any noticeable signs. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your kidneys and cause significant issues.

Women Are at Higher Risk Than Men for a UTI

Women develop urinary tract infections up to 30 times more than men and are more likely to have several UTIs. In fact, up to 40 percent of women will develop a second UTI within six months of the first infection. When someone develops two or more UTIs within six months or three UTIs within a year, that person can be said to have chronic UTIs.

An anatomical reason may make females more susceptible to UTIs. A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s urethra, making it easier for bacteria to infect the bladder. Certain factors put some women at higher risk to develop infections of the bladder:

• Wiping from back to front when using the restroom increases the likelihood of bacterial transfer.
• Diabetes can weaken your immunity and cause nerve damage, which can make it difficult to empty the bladder.
• Sexual contact can transfer germs and bacteria. Using diaphragms and condoms with spermicidal foam can also increase risk of UTIs.
• Pregnancy can make it difficult to empty the bladder, and pregnancy hormones can change the bacteria in the urinary tract.
• Loss of estrogen due to menopause can thin the vaginal tissue and make it more susceptible to bacterial growth.
• Kidney stones can obstruct urine flow from the kidneys to the bladder.
• Using a catheter, a thin tube in the urethra, can increase the chances of bacteria entering the bladder.

Six out of 10 women will develop cystitis within their lifetime, and one in four experiences chronic UTIs.

UTIs Have Some Common Symptoms

Not all people experience the same symptoms, but some common symptoms of cystitis can include the following:

• Sensation of burning or pain during urination
• Increased frequency and urgency to urinate but with low urine output
• Blood in the urine
• Pressure in the pelvis
• Foul-smelling urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Feeling fatigued, confused, weak or feverish

Cystoscopy Can Diagnose UTIs

If you have chronic UTIs, your urologist may suggest a cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is a procedure that uses a fiberoptic camera to visualize the inside of the bladder and urethra. Besides diagnosing UTIs, a cystoscopy can diagnose bladder stones, bladder control, urinary retention and hematuria (blood in the urine).

During the cystoscopy, your doctor will insert a thin, lighted tube called a cystoscope into your urethra. The cystoscope has a small lens that will magnify the lining of the urethra and bladder. Your doctor will fill the bladder with sterile water or saline so the bladder will stretch and improve visibility.

Call Your Urologist to Make an Appointment

If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI or changes in your urination habits, you should call your urologist. A consultation will help you determine the next steps for your health.

Multiple conditions may lead you to seek treatment and possibly surgery. For 40 years, patients have received safe, high-quality outpatient surgical procedures with increased savings and convenience at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country.

Our ASC is committed to providing a great patient experience with highly professional service and the most advanced technologies available. Patients are discharged from our facility the same day as the procedure and recover at home.

Urinary issues can develop and change quickly, so don’t ignore your body’s signals. Call today to schedule an appointment.

Imagine you are having the most wonderful dream. Just as you get to the best part, you suddenly awaken and have an urgency to pee.

We’ve all been there before. Waking during bedtime hours to urinate is called nocturia, and it’s more common than you might think. One-third of adults older than 30 make at least two trips to the restroom per night, according to the Urology Care Foundation.

Nocturia can have many causes, including insomnia, medication, drinking liquids before bed, pregnancy, an overactive bladder, urinary tract infection or GI issues.

Frequent Urination Negatively Impacts Quality of Life

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night, but frequent disruptions impact the quantity and quality of rest. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one-third of Americans do not get the suggested seven hours of sleep per night.

Decreased sleep from nocturia can cause many negative side effects, such as difficulty concentrating, poor work performance and moodiness. Nocturia can also increase the risk of falling, especially in older adults.

What Can You Do to Reduce Incidence of Nocturia?

By creating healthy habits and making some lifestyle changes, you may be able to reduce your frequency of nighttime urination. You may want to try two modifications: changing your sleeping habits and your medication.

Develop Healthy Sleep Habits

When we sleep, the body releases an antidiuretic hormone, which slows urine production in the kidneys. Lying awake during the night can reduce the production of this antidiuretic hormone, so the kidneys produce normal volumes of urine.

If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you should do some probing as to why you’re experiencing sleep disruptions. You may be able to make some modifications to help improve your sleep quality.

You may not be able to sleep for countless reasons. Stress and anxiety can cause insomnia, as well as late-night TV watching and phone use.

Doing meditation or following a bedtime routine can help you relax if you feel stressed. Too much screen time can disrupt your circadian rhythm and keep you awake at night. Setting up a technology-free bedroom will help you relax at night and get the rest you need.

Everyone, regardless of age, should limit screen time before bed. Don’t sleep next to your phone, and set your phone on airplane mode when you sleep. Do not watch TV in bed or fall asleep with the TV on.

Discuss Medications with Your Doctor

Consult your medical provider to discuss the effects of any medications you may be taking. It is important not to make changes to your schedule without talking to your doctor.

It’s also important to limit caffeine and alcohol, especially at night, because they act as diuretics and promote dehydration. Therefore, you should consider reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol from your diet. Sugar also can be dehydrating, so drinking sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and sweetened coffee drinks can also cause nocturia.

Medical Conditions Could Be Affecting Nocturia

If your sleep does not improve with better habits, you may need to visit your doctor. Some medical conditions can cause nighttime urination.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a name for a variety of urinary symptoms. It is characterized by a sudden, uncontrolled urge or need to urinate. Frequent urination is defined as going to the bathroom more than eight times in a 24-hour period. About 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women have OAB.

If you are retaining fluid, this may be a sign of another health condition. When the heart is not able to pump blood effectively, this condition is called congestive heart failure. This condition causes fluid to build up in your body. Talk to your primary care physician if you experience frequent urination, increased thirst, swelling in your feet, legs or abdomen, weight gain or shortness of breath.

Other conditions that can affect nocturia may include diabetes, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, pregnancy and childbirth, pelvic organ prolapse, menopause, enlarged prostate, edema or hypertension.

Diagnosing and Treating Conditions That Cause Nocturia

Once you are referred, a urologist can diagnose and provide treatment for urinary tract infections, overactive bladder and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Cystoscopy is a procedure that uses a fiberoptic camera to view the inside of the urethra and bladder. After infusing water or saline into the bladder, the doctor can examine the urinary tract and detect problems with urine flow and emptying the bladder.

Cystoscopy takes only 5 to 15 minutes, but it can be helpful in diagnosing bladder control, urine retention, bladder stones, blood in the urine and painful urination.

Call Your Urologist to Make an Appointment about Nocturia

If you are suffering from nocturia, you have options. You don’t have to endure daytime tiredness and low energy. Call your urologist and make an appointment to discuss your medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor may need to get a urine culture to find out important information about why you get up during the night to urinate.

Because a myriad of health conditions can cause nocturia, it is important to keep a health journal and write down your symptoms. To prepare for your visit, take notes on how often you urinate and whether any modification makes your symptoms better or worse.

Multiple conditions may lead you to seek treatment and possibly surgery. For 40 years, patients have received safe, high-quality outpatient surgical procedures with increased savings and convenience at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country. Check with your physician to determine if you have a health condition that would require a full-service hospital for treatment.

Our ASC is committed to providing a great patient experience with highly professional service and the most advanced technologies available. Patients are discharged from our facility the same day as the procedure and recover at home.

When boys are born, they have a covering on the end of their penis, called the glans or foreskin. Circumcision is an elective (optional) procedure to remove this foreskin. It can be performed by an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn), is ideally done within the first two days after the baby is born and is brief, usually taking just a few minutes.

Deciding whether or not to circumcise an infant is very important and parents should ask questions or discuss concerns with their doctor while a woman is still pregnant—not after the baby is born. It’s important to discuss both the potential benefits of circumcision as well as the possible problems that could develop as a result of the procedure, even though it is considered low risk.

Pros and Cons of Circumcision

Although circumcision is not necessary, the medical reasons why a parent might decide on circumcision is because it helps reduce risks for:

• Infection
• Penile cancer
• Phimosis (a condition where the foreskin cannot contract)
• Sexually transmitted infections or diseases
• Urinary tract infections

In contrast, some parents choose not to circumcise their infant boy. Some of the medical reasons include possible bleeding or infection, the possibility of cutting the foreskin incorrectly or concerns about improper healing or urinary issues developing.

Concerns About Baby Circumcision Pain

Another concern many parents have is about the pain a baby experiences during the procedure. In past decades, pain medication was not typically used during circumcision. However, today it is used more often and recommended by many experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Local anesthesia can be used by a doctor or an ob-gyn to reduce the baby’s discomfort, usually administered by an injection or as a cream. Parents choosing to circumcise their baby should make sure to discuss pain relief with their doctor prior to the procedure, and if they would like to be with their baby during the procedure, they should also discuss that with the doctor.

About the Circumcision Procedure

To perform circumcision, a doctor will follow the steps below:

• Administer anesthesia, if it is being used. Creams can take up to an hour to be effective, and if the baby urinates, it can come off. Injections take about 5 minutes to become effective and are considered better at relieving pain.
• The ob-gyn will clean the area.
• A tool called a probe is used, separating the foreskin from the penis.
• A clamp is attached to the penis, and the foreskin is removed using a scalpel. (Note that sometimes devices other than a clamp may be used.) There is little bleeding and stitches are not needed.
• A dressing or plastic ring is placed on the cut to prevent it from rubbing against the baby’s diaper and irritating it, and gauze is wrapped around the penis.
• It usually takes 7-10 days for the penis to heal. Parents should follow all care instructions provided by the doctor.

When to Perform Circumcisions

Finally, keep this in mind: when a boy is older, it may be possible to circumcise him, but the older he gets the greater the risk. A 2014 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported the follow results:

• Boys Under 12 Months: 0.4 percent experienced circumcision complications
• Boys 12 Months to Nine Years: Risks increased 20-fold for boys in this age group who were circumcised, compared to infants
• Boys 10 and Older: Experienced a 10-fold higher risk after circumcision, compared with infants

The lesson? If parents decide to circumcise their son, the best decision is always to do it as early as possible.

To learn more about what the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say about infant circumcision, click here.

When it comes to urinary incontinence — that is, the inability to control the flow of one’s urine — every patient’s experience is unique. In addition to there being different challenges for women and men, there are also a variety of reasons the problem may be occurring.

Plus, some urinary incontinence may be temporary, such as incontinence caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). Other times, it is ongoing and could become worse over time if not treated.

When a Surgical Procedure Is Needed for Urinary Incontinence

Doctors use a number of different treatments for urinary incontinence, ranging from medications to self-care practices designed to strengthen the muscles. But if medications or non-surgical treatments don’t lead to improvement, surgery can be used to treat urinary incontinence. Surgery typically offers a permanent solution.

A doctor will explain the available procedures and discuss which is best for the patient. In offering this recommendation, the doctor will have to take a number of factors into consideration, such as the patient’s overall health and existing damage to the urinary tract or surrounding tissues.

Here are some common procedures used to treat urinary incontinence:

Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement (for Men)

Urethral sphincters are the muscles that control the release of urine from the bladder. When the urethral sphincters are contracted, this blocks the opening of the bladder, preventing urine from leaking out. When functioning properly, the urethral sphincters remain contracted until a person urinates, at which point, the sphincters relax. In males who cannot voluntarily control urination, one surgical option is implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). During an AUS procedure, the doctor makes small incisions near the scrotum and below the abdomen. Next, an inflatable urethral cuff, pump and balloon are inserted. After the procedure, the patient will then be able to urinate by squeezing and releasing a small pump located in the scrotum. This causes fluid to pass from the cuff into the balloon, allowing the cuff to expand and the urethra to open so the patient can urinate.

Bladder Neck Suspension (for Women)

Stress incontinence is a term used to describe an involuntary emission of urine when there is sudden pressure on the bladder and abdomen, such as when sneezing, laughing or jumping. It is one of the most common types of incontinence issues experienced by women. To correct stress incontinence, a doctor can perform a bladder neck suspension. This procedure involves the physician pulling up or “suspending” the bladder neck to give it greater support, then attaching it to the surrounding bone or tissue. This protects against urine leakage.

Sling Procedures (for Men and Women)

Both men and women can have sling procedures. Slings are made of soft mesh that is inserted permanently into the body.

• For Men – The sling is inserted to reposition the urethral sphincter muscle. This supports the muscle and helps stop bladder leakage. During the procedure, the doctor makes a small incision between the scrotum and anus. Next, he or she places the sling around part of the urethra. The sling repositions and squeezes the urethra, which helps the sphincter function properly.
• For Women – Women can also have a sling procedure to stop or lessen urinary incontinence. In women, the sling is positioned so it raises and supports the urethra as well as the neck of the bladder. There are several approaches a doctor can use for the procedure that are performed on an outpatient basis and typically take just a half an hour.

Improved Quality of Life

Treating urinary incontinence with a surgical procedure can lead to a much better quality of life. If you are suffering from urinary incontinence, schedule an appointment with a doctor to discuss your options.