What is the Connection Between the Prostate and Frequent Urination?

The prostate and frequent urination are connected because, when the prostate becomes enlarged, it often causes a drastic increase in the number of times a man needs to urinate. This is because, as the prostate grows, it puts pressure on the urethral opening. More pressure on the urethra typically makes a person feel the need to urinate more often. Men who are more than age of 50 are most likely to experience problems with an enlarged prostate. Even though there is a definite connection between the prostate and frequent urination, a man should see his doctor about his symptoms in order to confirm they are the result of prostate enlargement.

A man who experiences problems with his prostate and frequent urination may also have other bladder symptoms. In addition to increased urinary urgency, an enlarged prostate can also make urination difficult. This is because the prostate can get large enough that it blocks off the urethral opening, which may prevent the bladder from emptying completely each time a man urinates. The need to urinate frequently combined with an inability to completely empty the bladder can make life miserable for a man who has an enlarged prostate. Fortunately, there are some things that doctors can do to help.

Doctors typically perform a variety of tests when trying to determine if problems with the prostate and frequent urination are a result of prostate enlargement. Initially, a doctor will likely take a urine sample to determine that the problems with urination aren't related to something else, like an infection. Some tests that may be conducted include blood tests, ultrasounds, and urinary flow tests. After the tests are completed and a doctor has determined that his patient does in fact have an enlarged prostate, treatment options will likely be discussed. Popular methods of treatment include certain types of prescription medicines and surgery.

Enlarged prostate problems can often be controlled with the use of prescription medicines, such as alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors. The alpha blockers can relax the muscles inside the bladder to make it easier for a man to urinate. Alpha reductase inhibitors may be able to effectively shrink the size of the prostate, but it could take several months before the prostate has shrunk to a size small enough that symptoms are no longer experienced. When these medications are ineffective or a prostate problem is serious enough that action needs to be taken immediately, surgery may be the only option. Fortunately, many types of prostate surgery can be done with lasers and are minimally invasive, which usually means that hospital stays and recovery times are shorter.