Can an enlarged prostate lead to erectile dysfunction condition?
Prostate growth is often a natural result of men getting older. As men age, they might develop a disorder called BPH.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate disorder can make you suffer from certain uncomfortable symptoms.
Remember prostate enlargement also called benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction are two different disorders.
Both increase with age, but one causes problems in your bathroom and the other in your bedroom.
Nevertheless, both medical conditions i.e., prostate enlargement and erectile dysfunction are linked slightly.
How does an enlarged prostate make you suffer from erectile dysfunction?
It is still unknown whether an enlarged prostate directly cause erectile dysfunction in men or not.
However, experts have suggested some possible reasons for the connection between prostate enlargement and ED.
These include conditions both age-related and certain health disorders.
Some evidence also reveals that an enlarged prostate can cause problems with the urinary system, causing ED.
The enlarged prostate condition can partly block the bladder outlet and cause changes in male sexual organ structures that are indulged in erection.
Since these erectile structures don’t work properly, erectile dysfunction disorder occurs.
It is also believed that a few cellular parts do not work properly in prostate enlargement and ED.
What do you understand by benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate?
The prostate is a small gland of walnut size that is present deep inside your pelvis underneath the bladder.
It surrounds the urethra, a tube that carries urine out throughout the male reproductive organ.
This releases a fluid that further gets mixed with sperm to produce semen during ejaculation time.
It’s part of the male sexual organ and sometimes even causes problems when it gets bigger.
If your prostate grows in a certain way it can start squeezing the urethra or irritate the bottom of the bladder, causing urination difficult.
This happens to most men with prostates as they get older and is often harmless.
The medical term for this condition is benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.
It is not the same as prostate cancer but both conditions can present some similar symptoms.
Symptoms of enlarged prostate
While suffering from an enlarged prostate, you might suffer from some symptoms including:
Difficulty in urinating
In case, your prostate is enlarged then you might find trouble in starting urination.
This happens because the prostate alters the pressure of your bladder and makes it difficult for a man to pass urine.
If this condition is left untreated then it might damage your kidneys.
Weak urine stream
An enlarged prostate can press on your urethra which passes through the prostate on its way to the male sexual organ.
This further causes a problem with the weak urine stream.
Sudden urge to urinate
You might go from not being able to urinate at all to suddenly urge to urinate.
This happens due to a way enlarged prostate restrains the urethra in your body.
Problem staying asleep
During the night, you might wake up a number of times to empty your bladder.
Urinary tract infections and bladder stones
Due to enlarged prostate, you might not be able to empty your bladder properly.
This further can increase your possibility of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other problems like bladder stones.
Thus, it is necessary to consult your doctor immediately, if you experience any symptoms of enlarged prostate and ED.
What causes an enlarged prostate?
Here are some factors that can cause prostate enlargement disorder in men:
- Hormone levels
- Age
- Diabetes
- Family history
- Changes in cells of your testicles
- Ethnicity
Enlarged prostate: What is its impact?
An enlarged prostate can impact your life in various ways, mainly your sexual life.
This further can reduce your confidence and cause stress as well as anxiety.
Enlarged prostate and erections
Is enlarged prostate responsible for causing erectile dysfunction?
Some BPH treatment medicines like alpha blockers are responsible for causing erectile dysfunction.
Also, some erectile dysfunction treatments can even relieve your symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Can a swollen prostate cause erectile dysfunction in men?
Though there is a report that confirms a link between erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate.
In case, you are suffering from erectile dysfunction along with symptoms of BPH then consult a doctor once.
Enlarged prostate and ejaculation
It is still doubtful to say that BPH on its own can issues with ejaculation.
Nevertheless, some treatments used for managing symptoms of BPH condition can lead to ejaculatory dysfunction.
Many common BPH treatments like finasteride and dutasteride can cause problems with ejaculation.
You might experience ejaculation that goes into your bladder rather than out of male reproductive organ.
Enlarged prostate and sexual drive
Though, it cannot be said that an enlarged prostate will cause erectile dysfunction or issues with ejaculating.
But there are several pieces of evidence stating that enlarged prostate can and does impact your sexual life.
Also, BPH can affect your sexual drive (libido) as you might feel stressed or worried about your symptoms normally.
In case, you feel that your enlarged prostate condition is affecting your sexual life then discuss it with a doctor.
Treatment for enlarged prostate
Below-stated are some effective ways to get relief from enlarged prostate:
Medicines
Some common medicines for enlarged prostates are alpha-blockers like Tamulosin and Terazosin.
Alpha-blockers assist in relaxing your prostate and bladder muscles. This further decreases discomfort.
You might be prescribed dutasteride or finasteride which blocks hormones responsible for growing your prostate.
Lifestyle changes
Certain lifestyle changes can provide you relief from enlarged prostate symptoms. These include:
- Eat low-fat diet
- Avoiding alcohol consumption a few hours before bedtime
- Have plenty of vegetables
- Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a few servings of fruit every day
Thus, if you suffer from any symptoms of an enlarged prostate or erectile dysfunction then contact your doctor promptly.
In this way, you will be able to treat your condition and know about all possible treatments.
