[KoK! Health] Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Just an Aging Disease? Leaving It Untreated Can Cause Complications

Half of Men Over 50 Suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Yet More Than Half of Patients Do Not Visit Clinics

Risks of Urinary Tract Infection, Bladder Stones, Acute Urinary Retention
Hard to Cure... Chronic Disease Requiring Lifelong Management

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a representative chronic disease experienced by men. Its incidence notably increases especially from the age of 50. It is known that half of men over 50, 60% of men over 60, and 70% of men over 70 suffer from BPH.

Illustration of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [Image source=Korean Urological Association YouTube]

However, the actual perception among men in this age group is that BPH is considered a trivial illness. According to a recent survey on awareness of BPH conducted by the Korean Urological Association, more than half of the patients, 52%, did not visit a hospital or clinic. The reasons they cited included "symptoms naturally occurring with aging, so there seemed to be no need to visit a hospital" (66.9%) and "symptoms were bearable" (44.7%) (multiple responses allowed).

Jae-Hyun Ryu, Chief of the Department of Urology at Central Veterans Hospital, stated, "BPH is a chronic urinary tract disease that troubles middle-aged and older men. If left untreated, it can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and acute urinary retention?a condition where the bladder is full but the patient cannot urinate despite the urge,” adding, “If acute urinary retention is not resolved quickly, urinary tract rupture can occur, and in such cases, it is essential to visit the emergency room.” Dr. Ryu further added, “If BPH is left untreated and becomes chronic, it can secondarily damage the bladder. In such cases, even after prostate surgery, urinary difficulties may persist, so treatment should be started without delay.”

There is a common misconception that severe BPH leads to prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction, but this is not true. BPH does not progress to cancer, and the affected areas differ. Although erectile dysfunction often occurs in middle-aged and older men and is sometimes thought to be related, BPH itself does not cause erectile dysfunction.

Major Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
[Image source=Korean Urological Association YouTube]

Treatment options for BPH mainly include watchful waiting, medication, and surgical treatment. The first-line treatment is medication, which can improve symptoms within days or reduce the size of the prostate over several months. When surgery is performed, medication may be discontinued, but since the prostate can gradually enlarge again over time and some symptoms may persist after surgery, continuous management through medication is essential. Many people mistakenly believe BPH is a curable disease, but it is a chronic recurrent condition requiring ongoing management of urinary symptoms.

Hyun-Jun Park, Professor of Urology at Pusan National University Hospital and Public Relations Director of the Korean Urological Association, said, "BPH symptoms and causes vary significantly among patients, and approaches must be tailored according to age, health status, and treatment preferences, making ‘patient-customized treatment’ absolutely necessary. If you experience discomfort during urination, it is important to visit a urology specialist for an accurate diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment accordingly.”

For more detailed information about BPH, you can refer to the video titled 'Misconceptions and Truths about Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia' available on the Korean Urological Association’s YouTube channel. In the video, Dr. Jae-Hyun Ryu explains the diagnosis, symptoms, prevalence, and treatment methods of BPH, and answers common questions that patients usually have regarding BPH.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.