Treatment Options for
Symptomatic BPH
Symptoms related to BPH, particularly
LUTS, can be managed by waiting
for spontaneous improvement of
symptoms, by medical therapies, or
by various surgical procedures. The
choice of treatment depends on the
severity and annoyance of the
patient's symptoms, his expectations
of treatment, and his acceptance of
the risks of treatment.
One of the factors most frequently
considered by patients contemplating
a particular therapy for BPH is the
effect of that therapy on sexuality.
An inability to ejaculate or a significant
decrease in ejaculate volume is
significantly associated with deterioration
in QOL. The selective 1-blockers
cause few sexual side effects; as
a result, they are associated with a
higher QOL. Physicians should inquire
about sexual function as part of
each patient’s pretreatment evaluation
and, where appropriate, manage BPH
and ED simultaneously.1