BPH Specialist

Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons

Urologic Surgeon servicing Dixon, Peru, and Sterling, IL

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prostate enlargement that causes urologic symptoms. It’s common among men over 50 and grows even more common with age. If you’re suffering from BPH symptoms like straining to urinate or trouble controlling urination, there’s an expert urology team ready to help. Steve Y. Chung, MD, the expert urologist at Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons, which has locations in Dixon, Peru, Streator, Ottawa, and Princeton, Illinois, offers the most advanced minimally invasive treatments available for BPH today. Use the online scheduler, or call the office today.

BPH Q & A

What is BPH?

BPH is a condition that happens when your prostate grows larger and obstructs your urethra. Eventually, your prostate can grow enough to block your urethra, making it extremely difficult to urinate normally.

In addition to the urethra blockage, BPH causes bladder thickening, eventually followed by bladder weakening. This can leave you unable to fully empty the bladder, which is called urinary retention.

The symptoms of BPH generally increase gradually, so it might be hard to recognize at first. But, eventually, BPH can cause severe urinary and overall health problems, so it's important to be aware of BPH symptoms and ask for help when you need it.

What are the signs of BPH?

BPH symptoms can include one or more of the following.

Urgent need to urinate
More frequent urination at night
Difficulty starting urination
Burning or discomfort while urinating
Erratic urine flow
Weak urine stream
Leaking urine
Constant full-feeling bladder

In some cases, BPH causes recurring urinary tract infections or blood in your urine. In the most severe cases, you could experience a total urethra blockage and become completely unable to urinate.

Will I get prostate cancer if I have BPH?

BPH isn’t cancer, and it doesn’t increase your risk either. However, it’s possible to have both BPH and prostate cancer at the same time. Both conditions must be taken seriously, so it’s important to see Dr. Chung at Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons for regular checkups.

Early diagnosis of BPH, prostate cancer, and all other serious urologic conditions is invaluable in restoring and maintaining your health.

How does the doctor treat BPH?

Dr. Chung uses minimally invasive procedures in BPH treatment, including UroLift® and the GreenLight™ laser.

UroLift

UroLift is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure in which Dr. Chung places small implants in your urethra to keep your enlarged prostate from causing urination problems. Dr. Chung typically performs the UroLift procedure as an outpatient under anesthesia, so it’s pain-free. There’s typically minimal discomfort after the procedure, and you can expect symptom relief within just two to four weeks.

GreenLight laser

Dr. Chung uses the GreenLight laser to vaporize the prostate tissue overgrowth that’s causing your urinary problems. This widens your urethral opening and allows you to urinate normally again. GreenLight laser treatment is painless and usually done on an outpatient basis while you’re under general anesthesia.

You can also take medication to reduce your BPH symptoms, but the relief only lasts as long as you take the medicine every day. Procedures like UroLift or GreenLight can give you long term relief, without medication.

Click the online scheduler, or call Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons for BPH help now.

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