Mild prostate gland enlargement (also called "benign prostatic hyperplasia," or BPH) sometimes does not even require medical treatment. A program of nutrition, exercise,and hydrotherapy may be all that you need to relieve your symptoms. You should,of course, discuss all symptoms and forms of treatment with your doctor. In a few cases, your doctor may recommend a course of "watchful waiting:" you will return for annual examinations and blood test to monitor carefully your prostate gland, its enlargement, your prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, and other factors. You may also be asked to describe symptoms to determine if your condition is worsening. Your health care provider may also record other information to better evaluate your risk factors. If your physician chooses to prescribe medication, this may include drugs that prevent the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone associated with prostate growth. It is worth noting that it may take as long as six months to determine if the medication is working properly. You will need to regularly consult your doctor, who may need to adjust the dosage. Side effects of these drugs can include reduced libido,impotence, tenderness of the breast area, and reduced sperm count. Other medicines for enlarged prostate gland that may be prescribed are known as alpha blockers. They work by relaxing the smooth muscle tissue in the bladder opening and prostate area, which aids urinary flow. Side effects of alpha blockers can include dizziness, headache,low blood pressure, fatigue, weakness, and difficulty in breathing. You should consult regularly with your doctor to monitor how these drugs are affecting you.

Prostatic stents and enlarged prostate gland

A few patients with enlarged prostate glands who should not take medications or who are not good candidates for surgery can benefit from insertion of a prostatic stent. These stents are tiny spring-loaded devices that are inserted into the urethra. They press back the tissue surrounding the urethra, thus permitting increased flow of urine. Such a procedure is simple and can usually be performed as day surgery, in fifteen minutes or less, using local anesthesia. For some patients, however, the stents can painful or frequent urination. Up to one third of patients must have their stents removed, which is more difficult than insertion.