Urology Awareness Month 2017
01st, Sep 2017
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about urology and urological conditions and how they affect us in the UK.
Urology Awareness Month is an annual campaign run by The Urology Foundation (TUF) in the month of September.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about urology and urological conditions and how they affect us in the UK.
It is estimated that 1 in 2 of us will be affected by a urology condition in our lifetime. Urology health is vital to our quality of life and diseases and cancers of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and the male reproductive system are becoming more prevalent and devastating the lives of millions of men, women and children in the UK.
Benign Prostate Enlargement
A common issue amongst men is Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE), which also known as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). An enlarged prostate causes the walls of the urethra to narrow and squeeze together resulting in urinary retention, with symptoms occuring such as slow urine flow and a need for frequent urination.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate is a small gland, about the shape and size of a walnut. It sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the first section of the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis (urethra).
The main function of the prostate gland is as a male reproductive organ. It produces the fluid that mixes with the sperm from the testicles to make semen. It also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that turns the semen into liquid, enabling it to be expelled during ejaculation.
An enlarged prostate has a significant impact on a man’s quality of life. Sufferers may find that they need to stay near a toilet, which can make it difficult to work, drive, be outdoors and attend social events.
How can it be treated?
Treatment has traditionally been by way of medication, thermotherapy, laser surgery and major surgery. Until recently all these treatments had a range of unfortunate side effects including the risk of sexual dysfunction.
Fortunately, new treatments for BPE have been developed including the Urolift System from NeoTract. Urolift is a minimally invasive day procedure which holds the enlarged tissue out of the way with clips, like opening curtains on a window. This allows the fluid to pass through more easily. The procedure also involves no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue unlike other more invasive treatments.
The Urolift system is now available at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Belfast. For more information including patient case studies and frequently asked questions please click here.
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