Division of Urologic Surgery
The Division of Urologic Surgery, part of the Department of Surgery, offers exceptional patient care, research programs, and education and training opportunities.
Prostate Care
Effective care for enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and more
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Prostate Specialists Offer Advanced Care
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) urologists are experts in diagnosing and treating prostate conditions. BIDMC is a national leader in comprehensive prostate care, including urologic surgery.
Understanding the Prostate
The prostate gland is part of a man's reproductive system. It is located in front of the rectum and under the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body.
A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut. It makes part of the seminal fluid. During ejaculation, seminal fluid helps carry sperm out of your body as part of semen. Male hormones (androgens) cause the prostate to grow.
Symptoms of Prostate Conditions
Signs and symptoms of prostate problems can include the following:
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Inability to completely empty your bladder when you urinate
- Sudden urgency to urinate
- Trouble starting urine flow even when your bladder feels full
- Weak or interrupted urinary stream
If you are experiencing any of these, you should contact your primary care doctor. They can determine if you should see a urologist for more specialized care.
More About Prostate Care
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that only the prostate produces. PSA levels are high in those with prostate cancer. PSA tests screen for elevated PSA that could indicate the presence of cancer.
Elevated PSA Level
If this number is rising quickly or appears too high for your age, your doctor might send you for a prostate biopsy. During a biopsy, a specialist removes a small tissue sample and sends it to the laboratory for close analysis.
Prostate Diagnostic Testing
We provide a full range of prostate testing services, including advanced, image-guided tests. Our team offers the following:
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH) is a benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate. In many middle-aged men, the prostate begins to grow for reasons not fully understood. This benign growth can cause urinary symptoms.
BPH may force your bladder muscle to work harder and become irritable or weakened. If you have BPH, the muscles of your pelvic floor do not have to work as hard to prevent urine leakage. Not using these muscles can cause them to weaken.
Symptoms of BPH
As the prostate enlarges, it impinges upon the urethra. This pressure can obstruct urinary flow and cause symptoms:
- Dysuria (burning with urination)
- Frequency
- Hesitancy
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Nocturia (frequency at night)
- Retention (inability to urinate)
- Straining
- Urgency (sudden urge to urinate)
- Weak urinary stream
Full Range of Innovative BPH Treatments
In many instances these symptoms can diminish or resolve with medications. Typically, your urologist will prescribe an alpha blocker such as Flomax or Doxasozin in combination with an alpha reductase inhibitor such as Proscar or Avodart. These are safe medications that many men stay on for years without difficulty.
Oftentimes, these medications lose their efficacy or don’t relieve the symptoms well over time. If this happens, you may need further prostate treatment. Prostate surgery is the next step.
Our urologic surgeons provide the latest surgical treatments for BPH:
Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Care
We provide complete care for prostate cancer. BIDMC’s Prostate Cancer Program is Boston’s foremost center offering robotic surgery to treat prostate cancer.
