Avoid missing prostate warning signs with this handy quiz
A leading Australian Urologist is sounding a warning to men who unknowingly ignore symptoms of an enlarged prostate, wrongly assuming it’s just a part of growing older. Symptoms the Urologist highlighted include, increased frequency going to the toilet at night or a change in urine flow.
Dr Gordon O’Neill, who has been treating diseases of the prostate for over 25 years said almost half of all men over 50 have an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), where the prostate gland enlarges and obstructs the urethra - the tube which expels urine from the bladder, and this may cause bothersome urinary symptoms.
“While BPH is not cancerous or life threatening, the symptoms such as leaking or frequent urination can negatively impact a man’s quality of life,” Dr O’Neill said.
“The prostate starts to compress the urine channel and this in turn may interfere with bladder function. In some severe cases, some men have trouble urinating at all.
“If left undiagnosed this condition could lead to bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bleeding,” he said.
Dr O’Neill is encouraging men to complete Mosh’s BPH quiz which can help flag any irregularities that might cause need for concern.
Mosh Medical Director Joanna Sharp said the quiz makes it easy for men to raise an issue they often deem embarrassing to discuss.
“It’s a simple survey that can be done anywhere, at any time, allowing men who may be worried about their prostate function to find out whether medical intervention is needed,” said Dr Sharp.
“There’s a lot of unnecessary fear and old school thinking among men when it comes to the prostate and there’s no need. Women are very good at being more in tune with their bodies, men are not so great. We need men to do better to notice changes in their body, especially ones that could be hiding something more sinister.”
“Are they having to get up to urinate more frequently at night and is that impacting their quality of sleep? Does it dribble at the end? We don’t want men suffering in silence, thinking it’s secret men’s business. Troublesome symptoms of enlarged prostate can be fixed very easily,” Dr Sharp said.
About one in seven men aged 40 to 49 years are diagnosed with a prostate problem, which increases to about one in every four men aged 70 years and older.
GPs then assess the survey results referring those that need further examination to a urologist, like Dr O’Neill.
“Some men live with an enlarged prostate and have no idea and that’s okay. But for those men where the symptoms have become an issue there are minimally invasive options such as an implant procedure,” Dr O’Neill said.
“It’s a minimally invasive treatment that opens the prostatic urethra, relieving obstruction for men who suffer urinary symptoms related to BPH."
“The implant holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue with no impact on sexual function which can be a big fear and deterrent for some men,” he said.
Dr O’Neill believes men should also be screened for prostate cancer by getting a PSA test from the age of 40. As they age the prostate gland grows and the PSA is likely to rise slightly.
“The prostate grows on average about four percent a year, so changes can start as early as 30 but they won’t become apparent for another 20 years,” he said.
“While having BPH or an enlarged prostate doesn’t increase your risk of prostate cancer, symptoms left unchecked could be masking a much more sinister problem such as prostate cancer so it’s better to have your symptoms assessed,” Dr O’Neill said.
You can find Mosh's BPH quiz here.
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