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Medical treatment for BPH For many men, the first active step is medication. The aim is to relieve symptoms and improve urine flow. Main groups of medicines: Alpha-blockers Relax the smooth muscle in and around the prostate and bladder neck Help the urine channel open more easily Often start to work within days or weeks Possible side-effects: Tiredness, dizziness or low blood pressure Occasionally, semen going backwards into the bladder during orgasm (retrograde ejaculation).

1. How is prostate enlargement diagnosed? The aim is to confirm that the prostate is the main cause of your symptoms and to exclude other problems such as stones, tumours or bladder nerve disorders. Common assessments include: Symptom assessment Discussion about your urinary symptoms Often a questionnaire such as the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to rate severity and impact on quality of life Physical examination General examination Abdominal examination to feel

​ What is the prostate? The prostate is a small gland that only men have. It sits just below the bladder and surrounds the first part of the water pipe (urethra) that carries urine out through the penis. Its main job is to produce a fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen. This fluid helps to nourish and protect sperm. All men are born with a prostate. During puberty it grows under the influence of male hormones. Later in life, usually from the age of 40–50 onwards, it ofte

VARICOCELE What is a varicocele? A varicocele is a widening and twisting of the veins that drain blood away from the testicle back towards the heart. You can think of it as “varicose veins of the scrotum”. These veins form a network called the pampiniform plexus. Under normal conditions they: Carry “used” blood away from the testicle Help to keep the testicle slightly cooler than the rest of the body, which is important for sperm production In varicocele: The veins become ove

Do kidney stones come back? How can I prevent them? Unfortunately, kidney stones often have a tendency to come back. Many patients who have had one stone will develop another one within 5–10 years if no preventive steps are taken. To lower the risk: a) Fluid intake Aim to produce at least 2–2.5 litres of urine per day. In practice, this usually means drinking around 2.5–3 litres of fluid per day, more if you sweat a lot or live in a hot climate. Water should be the main drink

Do all kidney stones need treatment? No. Not all stones need immediate treatment. In general: Small stones that sit in the kidney, do not block the flow of urine and cause no symptoms can sometimes be safely monitored with regular scans. Stones that are large, growing, causing repeated pain, reducing kidney function, causing repeated infections or blocking urine flow usually need active treatment. The decision to treat or monitor depends on stone size, location, number of sto

What symptoms can kidney stones cause? Kidney stones sometimes cause no symptoms at all and are found by chance when you have a scan for another reason. When they do cause symptoms, common ones are: Sudden, severe pain in the side or back (often called renal colic) The pain may spread from the back towards the tummy, groin or, in men, towards the testicle. Blood in the urine (sometimes visible, sometimes only seen on a urine test) Needing to pass urine more often or burning w

What do the kidneys do? The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that sit on either side of your spine, just under the ribs in your back. Their main jobs are: To filter waste products and extra fluid out of the blood To keep the balance of water and salts in the body To make some important hormones (for blood pressure and red blood cell production) The liquid produced by this filtering process is called urine. Urine travels from the kidneys through thin tubes called ureters, do

Urological health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, yet many individuals often overlook it until issues arise. When faced with urological conditions, a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment can lead to suboptimal outcomes. Personalised urological treatment plans, tailored to the unique needs of each patient, offer a more effective and comprehensive solution. In this blog post, we will explore the numerous benefits of personalized treatment plans in urology, highlig

Kidney stones are a common yet painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide. These hard deposits of minerals and salts form inside the kidneys and can lead to severe discomfort when passing through the urinary tract. Understanding the causes, prevention strategies, and treatment options for kidney stones is crucial for anyone who has experienced this condition or is at risk. In this blog post, we will explore the various aspects of kidney stones, including thei

Urological health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being that often goes unnoticed until issues arise. Many individuals may not fully understand the importance of maintaining a healthy urinary system or the potential complications that can occur if problems are left unaddressed. This blog post aims to shed light on urological health, drawing insights from experts in the field. By the end of this article, you will have a clearer understanding of urological health, common co