Enlarged prostate (BPH) · Alpharetta and Roswell
Your enlarged prostate questions, answered.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, usually shortened to BPH, means the prostate has grown larger with the years. Because the gland wraps around the channel just under the bladder, that growth can squeeze the way out for urine. Here are the questions men in Alpharetta and Roswell ask us most, in the order they usually come up.
What does BPH feel like?
Men often notice they need to urinate more often or more urgently, that they get up at night, or that the stream has less force or pauses and restarts. A feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied is another common sign. Those changes are a reason to book a visit at our Alpharetta / Roswell office; a urine test, a flow test and a bladder ultrasound in this building often help sort out the cause. If you cannot pass urine at all, go to an emergency room now, or call 911.
My symptoms are mild. Should I still come in?
Yes, it is reasonable to. Symptoms are worth a conversation even when they don’t seem bothersome yet. Part of the visit is checking for treatable causes, and untreated BPH can raise the chance of a more serious blockage later.
Does a bigger prostate mean worse symptoms?
Not necessarily. Some men with a small enlargement have strong symptoms, and some with a large one barely notice. That is why our urologists evaluate the cause in your case rather than going by size alone.
What happens at the first visit?
Most first visits begin with talking through your symptoms and health history, followed by an exam and often a urine sample. Ultrasound and lab work are on site at the Roswell office, so many tests can be done here rather than at a separate location. Then our urologists walk you through the results and your choices.
What about a high PSA result?
An elevated PSA can come from cancer, but it can also come from non-cancerous conditions such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis. The Alpharetta office reviews what your result does and does not mean before any next step. More on prostate cancer care and high PSA and biopsy.
What if medicine stops working?
If prostate medicine is no longer enough, or the side effects are hard to live with, our urologists discuss procedures offered here, including UroLift and prostate artery embolization, which is done at our Alpharetta office. Dr. Herman Bagga walks through that next-step conversation in his note on what comes after pills, and the enlarged prostate treatment page compares the options. Every procedure has risks, which we review with you before anything is scheduled.
What if I suddenly can’t urinate?
Go to the emergency room. If you were sent home with a catheter, this is the plan to get you off it.
Related video
Dr. Rut Patel, who sees patients at our Alpharetta / Roswell office, talks about prostate health, and Advanced Urology offers a short introduction to the practice:
More prostate answers from our team
- Signs of an Enlarged Prostate
- How to Prepare for a Prostate Biopsy
- Robotic Prostatectomy: Who Is a Fit?
- Nocturia in Women vs. Men
Read more on enlarged prostate care at Advanced Urology, including UroLift and prostate artery embolization.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.