Understanding the Impact of an Enlarged Prostate on Sexual Health

January 14, 2025

An enlarged prostate, known medically as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, is a condition that many men experience as they age. Its symptoms can range from frequent urination to more severe complications. The majority of individuals associate BPH with urinary problems, but little attention is paid to its effects on sexual health. In this blog, we’ll explore how an enlarged prostate can impact a man’s sexual health, and what treatment options are available, including Rezum Vapor Therapy, with a special focus on finding the best hospitals for BPH treatment, such as Sohana Hospital.

 

What is BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)?

For the nourishment and transportation of sperm seminal fluids are produced by the prostate. As men age, the prostate naturally enlarges, leading to BPH. This condition is not cancerous but can disrupt normal urinary function. In fact, over half of men over the age of 50 experience some form of BPH, with the numbers increasing as men get older.

The symptoms are primarily urination-related. Other symptoms include daytime and nighttime frequent urination, a weak urine flow, and straining to urinate. Most significantly, many patients with BPH develop a feeling that they do not completely empty the bladder. For many men who experience these uncomfortable symptoms, it would come as an even greater surprise if they knew BPH could adversely affect sexual function.

 

How Does an Enlarged Prostate Affect Sexual Health?

An enlarged prostate is not merely a cause for urinary problems, but it may also affect sexual health in other ways. This is how it happens:

1. Erectile Dysfunction: ED is considered one of the most common sexual side effects that a man develops when he is suffering from BPH. BPH makes men unable to have or maintain an erection. Often, this has been caused by the drugs given for BPH, such as alpha-blockers that disrupt the normal flow of blood that is supposed to cause the erection.

 

2. Low Libido: Pain and emotional distress caused by the symptoms of BPH can also cause low libido. When a man is always experiencing urinary urgency, pain, or embarrassment, it reduces his desire for sexual activity.

 

3. Ejaculation problems: Another common problem among men with BPH, in which semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out of the penis during orgasm. This is a side effect of drugs used to treat BPH, such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

 

4. Pelvic Pain and Discomfort: An enlarged prostate can sometimes lead to pelvic pain, affecting sexual performance and general comfort. It may lead to chronic discomfort and make the sex life of an individual quite miserable.

 

Treatment Options for BPH and Effects on Sexual Health

BPH does affect sexual health, although there are plenty of treatments for BPH that are medical options that can easily manage the situation and enhance quality life. However, the side effects of these medications must be discussed with a healthcare provider since some medications can have an adverse effect on sexual health. There are some common BPH treatments as illustrated below:

 

1. Medications

  • Alpha-blockers: The alpha blockers relax the blood vessels and prostate muscles. Resulting in easy urination, but they also may cause side effects such as dizziness and impotence.
  • 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors: It is used for blocking the growth of the prostate because of its own hormone. Sexual side effects are caused, such as decreased libido and impotence.

Many men find that the best treatment for BPH symptoms is finding a balance between reducing prostate size or easing urinary difficulties while minimizing sexual side effects. It is essential to discuss with a urologist any changes in sexual function when starting medication.

 

2. Minimally Invasive Procedures

When medication won’t work on the condition a minimally invasive procedure is recommended. These treatments can provide relief from BPH symptoms with less risk of side effects compared to traditional surgery. One such option is Rezum Vapor Therapy, which has gained popularity for its effectiveness and minimal impact on sexual health.

  • Rezum Vapor TherapyThe procedure uses minute quantities of water vapor placed inside the tissue in the prostate; the action triggers shrinkage of the affected tissue and gradually it gets assimilated by the body. There are benefits using the Rezum method-there is relatively non-invasive application under topical anesthesia, providing an advantage usually better than usual surgical methods over time. One of its greatest benefits is that it maintains sexual function and most men see little or no effect on erectile performance or ejaculation.

 

  • TUMT (Transurethral Microwave Therapy): Using microwave energy it reduces the size of the prostate. It is useful in relieving symptoms of urinary obstruction, and this therapy has fewer sexual side effects than some drugs.

 

  • TUNA (Transurethral Needle Ablation): In this method a radiofrequency energy is used to remove prostate tissue. This option is also less likely to cause sexual dysfunction when compared to surgical interventions.

 

3. Surgical Treatments

In cases where drug therapy and minor interventions fail, surgery is warranted. The main procedure for doing this is TURP; TURP stands for Transurethral Resection of the Prostate. As effective as this procedure is in relieving a man's need to urinate immediately, TURP sometimes induces sexual side effects, such as retrograde ejaculation or, even less frequently, impotence.

 

To determine the best available treatment for BPH at leading hospitals

If treatment for BPH is what the patient is seeking, then one has to find the best hospitals for BPH treatment. Sohana Hospital is among the many, which has its reputation for taking good care in urology. This institution provides the advanced options of treatment in BPH by using advanced technology in diagnosing and treating it. Located in a convenient place with a team of experienced specialists, Sohana Hospital ensures that every man receives personal care according to their needs.

 

Skilled medical staff within Sohana Hospital with the capacity of offering several varieties of BPH medical treatment, ranging from medication management, to the much more complex approach of surgery. They include amongst their least-invasive therapies such services as Rezum Vapor Therapy, providing a significant potential benefit to sexual health, among other issues and concerns. With the help of experienced specialists, Sohana Hospital can guide patients toward the most appropriate treatment options that address both urinary and sexual health concerns.

 

Conclusion:

While BPH is largely viewed as a problem that leads to urinary difficulties, its influence on sexuality in men cannot be neglected. Impotence, reduced sex drive, and ejaculation disorder are but a few symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate. It is good news because proper treatment for BPH and advice from the best urologists help solve these symptoms, which then helps males hold onto their urinary as well as sexual life.

 

If you are experiencing BPH symptoms and are worried about how they affect your sexual health, it is best to see a urologist. For the best treatment for BPH symptoms, Sohana Hospital provides full care that can help restore your quality of life. Whether you're considering Rezum Vapor Therapy For other treatment options, take the first step towards managing your health by seeking professional advice and treatment today.