Prostate surgery, also known asprostatectomy, refers to a procedure done to remove part or all of theprostate.
It is usually done to correct problems with the prostate, such as anenlarged prostateorprostate cancer.
Yet there are several types of prostate surgery.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that lies between the bladder and penis.
It wraps around the urethra, a thin tube that urine and semen pass through to leave the body.
An enlarged prostate can interfere with urine flow and cause serious health issues, such as kidney damage.
Most often, an enlarged prostate is benign, but sometimes prostate cancer is the cause.
This article looks at how the prostate works and why it may become enlarged.
The prostate tends to grow larger with increasing age.
That’s because hormonal changes and cell growth in the aging process sometimes cause it to swell.
The swelling puts pressure on the urethra, making it harder to empty the bladder during urination.
There are common conditions that an enlarged prostate gland may indicate.
They include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
An enlarged prostate is also known asbenign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).
This condition isnotcancer and does not raise a person’s risk forprostate cancer.
Still, the prostate may swell to the point of causing a problem.
With the TUIP, tissue is not removed but the opening for the urethra is surgically widened.
Prostatitis
Prostatitisis an inflammation of the prostate or the areas around it.
They can usually be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.
CP/CPPS shares some symptoms with other prostate conditions but is often more painful than other types.
The pain can spread across the pelvis and abdomen, and flare up for months and years.
Surgical procedures may be recommended if prostatitis is not due to bacteria, as with CP/CPPS.
The surgery may be needed because medications won’t work on this throw in.
Both TURP and TUVP may be used to treat prostatitis.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control.
Compared to some other cancers, prostate cancer tends to be slower and less invasive as it grows.
Prostate cancer often has no symptoms until it has spread.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among men in the United States.
One in eight men will be diagnosed with the condition during their lifetime.
Any growth or inflammation of the prostate gland can cause the urethra to become constricted.
When other therapies cannot fix the problem, surgery may be the best option.
In some cases, that may mean a minimally invasive procedure.
Surgery may be the ultimate option, but it is not always the first option.
If you have trouble with urination or ejaculation, you should ask your healthcare provider about prostate screening.
There are risks and potential complications, but surgery is necessary and life-saving in some cases.
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National Institutes of Health.Prostate diseases.
Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Chronic prostatitis.
2022;10(3):675.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for prostate cancer.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for prostate cancer.
American Cancer Society.Screening tests for prostate cancer.
American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage prostate cancer.
