Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Urinary symptoms include needing to urinate often, having a weak urine stream, or having trouble starting a urine stream. Watchful waiting and medicines are usually the first things considered for an enlarged prostate. Sometimes surgery is needed for more serious symptoms. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is better known as an enlarged prostate. It happens to almost all men as they age. It is not cancer. An enlarged prostate is usually harmless, but it often causes problems with urination. About half of all men older than 75 have some symptoms. The most important thing in deciding whether to get treatment is how much the symptoms bother you and how much they affect your quality of life. Medicines are sometimes used to help relieve bothersome, moderate to severe urination problems caused by an enlarged prostate. If you stop using medicine, the symptoms will probably return. Medicine choices include: 5-alpha reductase inhibitor Alpha-blocker If you don't want to take medicine, you can try watchful waiting while managing your symptoms at home. Watchful waiting means you have regular checkups to be sure that your symptoms aren't getting worse. And you try making these small changes to your lifestyle to control your symptoms: Some men try dietary supplements for BPH, such as saw palmetto or beta-sitosterol. But scientific studies don't show that saw palmetto helps with urinary problems or that beta-sitosterol is safe or helps over the long term. About 4 out of 10 men find that their symptoms improve without treatment. This means that 6 out of 10 men need medicine or surgery to help their symptoms.footnote 1 Your doctor may recommend taking medicine for BPH if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I've been having a lot of trouble getting a good night's sleep now that I have this enlarged prostate. I'm up 4 or 5 times a night to go to the bathroom, and then both my wife and I are tired all day. My doctor said these medicines often help with that problem, so I'm going to try them. Even if I still had to get up a couple of times a night, I would get more rest and have more energy during the day. Jake, age 61 When I started having problems urinating, my first thought was that it had to be cancer. My brother-in-law had similar symptoms, but he ignored them for a long time and eventually was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I decided not to ignore them, so I went right to my doctor. He did a rectal exam and a PSA test and said that he was confident that my prostate was just enlarged and that it did not appear that I had cancer. He said if I wanted something to treat the symptoms, he could prescribe medicine. But I was just happy that the problem wasn't from cancer, so I decided to manage the symptoms on my own for now. Jim, age 65 I've been able to manage my BPH symptoms on my own for a couple years. They didn't bother me that much at first, and the tips my doctor gave me about limiting fluids and avoiding nonprescription decongestants really helped. But these days, my symptoms seem to be getting worse, and I'm tired of dealing with them. I know the medicine can have side effects, but I'm going to give it a try. Michael, age 54 Several months ago, I started taking medicine to treat my prostate symptoms. The doctor said that most men don't have serious side effects, but I guess I'm one of the few who do. Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and tired was affecting me more than my prostate symptoms were, so I decided to stop taking the medicine. I found that my symptoms actually got a little better by themselves. For now, I'm managing okay with home treatment. My doctor and I will keep talking about other options if my symptoms get worse and I decide I want to try something different. Carl, age 58 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take medicine Reasons not to take medicine I have symptoms that really bother me. My symptoms don't really bother me. I would rather live with side effects from medicine than have my symptoms. I worry about the side effects of medicine. I don't mind taking medicine every day. I don't want to take medicine every day. I'm not worried about how much the medicine will cost. I really worry about how much the medicine will cost. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking medicine NOT taking medicine Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Urinary symptoms include needing to urinate often, having a weak urine stream, or having trouble starting a urine stream. Watchful waiting and medicines are usually the first things considered for an enlarged prostate. Sometimes surgery is needed for more serious symptoms. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is better known as an enlarged prostate. It happens to almost all men as they age. It is not cancer. An enlarged prostate is usually harmless, but it often causes problems with urination. About half of all men older than 75 have some symptoms. The most important thing in deciding whether to get treatment is how much the symptoms bother you and how much they affect your quality of life. Medicines are sometimes used to help relieve bothersome, moderate to severe urination problems caused by an enlarged prostate. If you stop using medicine, the symptoms will probably return. Medicine choices include: 5-alpha reductase inhibitor Alpha-blocker If you don't want to take medicine, you can try watchful waiting while managing your symptoms at home. Watchful waiting means you have regular checkups to be sure that your symptoms aren't getting worse. And you try making these small changes to your lifestyle to control your symptoms: Some men try dietary supplements for BPH, such as saw palmetto or beta-sitosterol. But scientific studies don't show that saw palmetto helps with urinary problems or that beta-sitosterol is safe or helps over the long term. About 4 out of 10 men find that their symptoms improve without treatment. This means that 6 out of 10 men need medicine or surgery to help their symptoms.1 Your doctor may recommend taking medicine for BPH if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I've been having a lot of trouble getting a good night's sleep now that I have this enlarged prostate. I'm up 4 or 5 times a night to go to the bathroom, and then both my wife and I are tired all day. My doctor said these medicines often help with that problem, so I'm going to try them. Even if I still had to get up a couple of times a night, I would get more rest and have more energy during the day." — Jake, age 61 "When I started having problems urinating, my first thought was that it had to be cancer. My brother-in-law had similar symptoms, but he ignored them for a long time and eventually was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I decided not to ignore them, so I went right to my doctor. He did a rectal exam and a PSA test and said that he was confident that my prostate was just enlarged and that it did not appear that I had cancer. He said if I wanted something to treat the symptoms, he could prescribe medicine. But I was just happy that the problem wasn't from cancer, so I decided to manage the symptoms on my own for now." — Jim, age 65 "I've been able to manage my BPH symptoms on my own for a couple years. They didn't bother me that much at first, and the tips my doctor gave me about limiting fluids and avoiding nonprescription decongestants really helped. But these days, my symptoms seem to be getting worse, and I'm tired of dealing with them. I know the medicine can have side effects, but I'm going to give it a try." — Michael, age 54 "Several months ago, I started taking medicine to treat my prostate symptoms. The doctor said that most men don't have serious side effects, but I guess I'm one of the few who do. Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and tired was affecting me more than my prostate symptoms were, so I decided to stop taking the medicine. I found that my symptoms actually got a little better by themselves. For now, I'm managing okay with home treatment. My doctor and I will keep talking about other options if my symptoms get worse and I decide I want to try something different." — Carl, age 58 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take medicine Reasons not to take medicine I have symptoms that really bother me. My symptoms don't really bother me. I would rather live with side effects from medicine than have my symptoms. I worry about the side effects of medicine. I don't mind taking medicine every day. I don't want to take medicine every day. I'm not worried about how much the medicine will cost. I really worry about how much the medicine will cost. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking medicine NOT taking medicine 1.
I may not need to take medicine if my symptoms don't bother me very much. 2.
I may find that my symptoms improve without treatment. 3.
Medicines can cause side effects that may be worse than my symptoms. 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: November 15, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardEnlarged Prostate: Should I Take Medicine?
Enlarged Prostate: Should I Take Medicine?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
What medicines are used to treat an enlarged prostate?
What can you do if you don't want to take medicine?
Why might your doctor recommend medicine for BPH?
Compare your options
Personal stories about using medicine for benign prostatic hyperplasia
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits and References
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Enlarged Prostate: Should I Take Medicine?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
What medicines are used to treat an enlarged prostate?
What can you do if you don't want to take medicine?
Why might your doctor recommend medicine for BPH?
2. Compare your options
Take medicine Don't take medicine What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about using medicine for benign prostatic hyperplasia
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Take medicine Take medicine
Don't take medicine Don't take medicine
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
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Equally important
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Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
You're right. Typically, you don't need medicine unless your symptoms bother you or you have other problems such as bladder infections or bladder stones.
You're right. About 4 out of 10 men find that their symptoms improve without treatment.
Correct. The side effects of medicine may bother you more than your symptoms.
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References
Citations