Have your urine thinned? It may be an enlarged prostateKonkuk University Hospital, Department of Urology, Hyung-Keun Park

o resolve an enlarged prostate, medication and surgery may be used.

First, there are medications that widen the passage of urine and drugs that reduce the size of the prostate itself. Once taken, these medications must be taken for life, and surgery should be considered if acute urinary retention recurs or if the drug becomes less effective.

The second surgical treatment is endoscopic tunnel surgery. This surgery involves entering the urethra through an endoscope and digging out the blocked prostate tissue. There is also endoscopic laser surgery. Laser surgery involves removing the entire enlarged prostate. Laser surgery can remove the prostate more safely.

Medication is given when the prostate gland is not yet very large or the symptoms are not severe. The advantage is that it can be treated at a low cost, but the disadvantage is that you have to take the drug for the rest of your life.

Conversely, surgical treatment is used when the prostate is already too large or when the symptoms are severe. The advantage is that it reliably clears the clogged urine passages. However, since it is a surgical procedure, there are concerns about side effects, and the disadvantage is that it cannot solve the problem of urine drainage from the bladder. Bladder problems can cause frequent urination and urinary urgency, which makes it difficult to hold urine.

When these symptoms occur, they can interfere with daily life. As a treatment, medications can improve the patience of the bladder and increase the strength of the bladder, but the unfortunate thing is that these drugs are not very effective. For a more convincing effect, surgery can be performed to partially paralyze the bladder.