Men in middle age and beyond have likely heard of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at least once. BPH refers to the phenomenon where the prostate gland gradually enlarges due to aging. The problem is that an enlarged prostate can cause urinary disorders that severely impair one's quality of life. If this is accompanied by bladder stones and urethral stricture, the symptoms become even more complex, and treatment also becomes more challenging.
The prostate is an organ located below the male bladder and contributes to the production of some seminal fluid. On average, it maintains a size of about 20g, but it shows a characteristic pattern of gradually enlarging with age. When the prostate becomes enlarged, it compresses the urethra, which is the passage for urine, and as a result, urinary disorders can occur. Representative symptoms of BPH include not feeling completely relieved after urination, frequent urination, nocturia (waking up at night to urinate), and decreased urinary flow rate.
If urine is not discharged smoothly, residual urine remains in the bladder, which can lead to the formation of stones within the bladder. When such complex problems exist, the symptoms become even more severe, and the necessity for treatment becomes even more urgent.
In such situations, a treatment method that is gaining attention is HoLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate) surgery. HoLEP stands for Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate. HoLEP is an innovative treatment that can simultaneously treat both benign prostatic hyperplasia and bladder stones. The holmium laser can precisely remove prostate tissue and also finely fragment stones inside the bladder, facilitating their natural expulsion. Therefore, it is considered an ideal treatment for patients experiencing complex urinary problems.
However, one should not automatically attribute all urinary symptoms to benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is because similar symptoms can occur due to other causes, such as urethral stricture, even if the prostate size is normal. Urethral stricture refers to a condition where the urethra narrows due to damage, inflammation, surgery, or other influences. A representative characteristic is urine flowing out thinly, like through a needle hole.
Recently, such urethral strictures can also be treated using laser technology. This method involves incising the narrowed area with a laser and then inserting a stent to widen the urethral diameter.
Dr. Ryu Je-man, director of Goldman Urology Seoul Station branch, stated, “When symptoms are similar but the causes differ, such as in benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder stones, and urethral stricture, accurate diagnosis and precise treatment strategies are paramount.” He added, “Especially for patients in middle age and beyond, laser-based procedures offer significant advantages due to less bleeding, reduced pain, and faster recovery. The key is to accurately identify the underlying cause rather than making hasty judgments based solely on visible symptoms, and then receive the most appropriate treatment.”