Men ’ s Health : Natural health approaches for better prostate health
• Consistent need to urinate
• Feeling that the bladder is still full even after urination
• A need to stop or start urinating
• Problems starting to urinate or the need to strain
Lower urinary tract symptoms tend to be common in association with BPH , including :
• An urgency to urinate
• A tendency to urinate more at night
• Weak urinary stream
• Increased frequency of urination
It is worth noting that BPH may lead to infections , urinary retention , obstruction , stones or even acute renal failure . It is also associated with erectile dysfunction and may cause problems with ejaculation . In fact , up to 70 % of men experience these symptoms while 20 % of males also admit to experiencing depression . 5 % of men who require surgery for BPH will experience long-term impotence as a result .
Medications prescribed for BPH may also cause :
• Erectile dysfunction
• Ejaculatory dysfunction
• Decreased libido
Some men receive a diagnosis of BPH once they have had a PSA blood test which is designed to ascertain if prostate cancer is present . There is often a great deal of fear experienced when the prostate enlarges , in cases where cancer is present .
It is worth noting that BPH does not appear to occur in men whose testicles were removed prior to puberty . Research indicates that aging and the presence of testicles may cause BPH .
Men produce testosterone throughout their lives . This is known as the male hormone but they also produce small amounts of the female hormone , estrogen . Testosterone levels decrease as the man ages and this naturally leaves a higher level of estrogen . Scientific research indicates that BPH may occur due to higher estrogen levels being present within the prostate and this may increase prostate cell growth .
There is another theory too which focuses on dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ), a male hormone that plays a role in the development of the prostate gland and its subsequent growth . It may be that older men
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