Prostate

• Overview: BPH refers to the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, commonly seen in aging men.
• Cause: Age-related hormonal changes and cellular growth.
• Symptoms: Frequent urination, weak urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urination, nocturia (frequent urination at night), incomplete bladder emptying.
• Treatment: Medications to relax the prostate and shrink its size, minimally invasive procedures such as water vapour therapy (Rezum), HoLEP treatment, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or laser therapy (GreenLight).

Dr Savdie specialises in both Rezum and HoLEP therapy for BPH, which are the latest advanced treatment options for those suffering from BPH.

• Overview: Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate gland, which can be caused by infection or other non-infectious factors.
• Cause: Bacterial infection (acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis), non-infectious factors (chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome).
• Symptoms: Pain or discomfort in the groin, pelvis, or genitals, urinary frequency and urgency, pain during urination or ejaculation, flu-like symptoms.
• Treatment: Antibiotics for bacterial prostatitis, anti-inflammatory medications, warm sitz baths, alpha-blockers to relax the muscles around the prostate, lifestyle changes.

• Overview: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow uncontrollably.
• Cause: Exact cause unknown, but age, family history, and genetic factors play a role.
• Symptoms: Early-stage prostate cancer may not cause symptoms. Later stages can lead to difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, bone pain, weight loss.
• Treatment: Treatment options depend on the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer. They may include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Active surveillance may be an option for low-risk cases.

• Overview: Prostate enlargement refers to the age-related enlargement of the prostate gland, which can lead to urinary symptoms.
• Cause: Age-related hormonal changes, particularly an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
• Symptoms: Frequent urination, weak urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urination, nocturia, incomplete bladder emptying.
• Treatment: Similar to BPH, treatment options may include medications, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery.

• Overview: Prostate stones are calcifications that develop within the prostate gland.
• Cause: Calcification of prostate secretions.
• Symptoms: Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area, difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen.
• Treatment: Small stones may pass on their own. Treatment options for larger stones include medication, prostate massage, or surgery to remove the stones.

• Overview: Prostate abscess is a collection of pus within the prostate gland, usually caused by a bacterial infection.
• Cause: Bacterial infection.
• Symptoms: Fever, chills, pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, urinary symptoms.
• Treatment: Drainage of the abscess, antibiotics.

• Overview: PSA testing measures levels of a protein called PSA in the blood to assess prostate health.
• Uses: It can help detect prostate conditions such as BPH or prostate cancer.
• Benefits and Considerations: PSA testing has limitations and can lead to false positives and overdiagnosis. Decision for testing should be based on individual factors and discussions with a healthcare professional.