Weill Cornell Medicine Urology
Weill Cornell Medicine Urology
BPH (Enlarged Prostate) - Symptoms and Evaluation

BPH (Enlarged Prostate) - Symptoms and Evaluation

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Symptoms related to bladder emptying include:

  • Urinary hesitancy or straining, i.e. difficulty starting a urine stream
  • Weak flow
  • Dribbling after urination
  • A sensation that the bladder is not completely empty
  • Frequency, or a sensation of needing to urinate again soon after urination
  • Dysuria, i.e. pain during urination

Symptoms related to bladder storage include:

  • Nocturia, or waking up at night
  • Frequent urination
  • A sudden, uncontrolled urge to urinate

The degree of enlargement of the prostate may not always be correlated with the severity of urinary symptoms. In addition, other conditions such as overactive bladder, diabetes, urinary tract infections, neurologic disease, and heart disease may cause similar symptoms.

When the bladder does not empty completely, the risk of developing a urinary tract infection increases. Other serious problems can occur, including the development of bladder stones, blood in the urine, and overactive bladder. In rare cases, urinary retention, i.e. the inability to urinate, or kidney damage can occur.

Evaluation of an enlarged prostate can take several forms. First, a medical history and physical exam that focuses on the urinary tract are important. A neurological exam should be performed to determine whether your symptoms are related to a problem with the nerves controlling the bladder. A urinalysis should be performed. Often, other tests are performed, including a digital rectal exam to check the size and firmness of the prostate, a urine culture to evaluate for the presence of infection, and a PSA to check for prostate cancer. If your symptoms are more severe, a postvoid residual test may be performed to evaluate the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination. A blood creatinine test assesses how well your kidneys are working. Urodynamics, or pressure-flow studies, may be used to distinguish whether your urinary symptoms are due to blockage from an enlarged prostate or to a problem with the bladder or its nerves. A transrectal ultrasound can measure the size of the prostate. Cystoscopy may also allow one to find out how much an enlarged prostate is blocking the urethra.

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Physicians & Faculty

Dr. Alexis E. Te, M.D. | Cornell Urology

Alexis E. Te

M.D.

646.962.4811
646.962.4811
Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, CIGNA, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Medicare, Oxford Freedom, Rockefeller University-CoreSource, United Healthcare Commercial
The Iris Cantor Men’s Health Center
Dr. Bilal Chughtai, M.D.

Bilal Chughtai

M.D.

646.962.4811
646.962.4811
AETNA [Medicare], AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Mediblue, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Emblem Select Care, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Federal Medicare, Fidelis Care, Health First, Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP), Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicaid], Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicare], NY State Medicaid, Oxford Freedom, Oxford Health Plans [Liberty], Oxford Health Plans [Metro/Core/Charter], Rockefeller University-CoreSource, UHC Compass, UHC Medicare, United Empire Plan, United Healthcare Commercial, VNSNY CHOICE Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
The Iris Cantor Men’s Health Center

Timothy McClure

M.D.

646.962.6363
646.962.6363
AETNA [Medicare], AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, Affinity Access, Affinity Essential, Affinity Health Plan, Blue Priority Network, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Mediblue, EBCBS Pathway X, EBCBS Pathway X Enhanced, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Fidelis Care, GHI, Health First, Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP), Medicaid, Medicare, Oxford Freedom, Oxford Health Plans [Liberty], Oxford Health Plans [Medicare], Oxford Health Plans [Metro/Core/Charter], POMCO, Rockefeller University-CoreSource, UHC Community Plan - Essential Plan, UHC Community Plan - Medicaid Plan, UHC Medicare, United Empire Plan, United Healthcare Commercial, VNSNY CHOICE Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
The LeFrak Center for Robotic Surgery

Alfred Winkler

MD, MBA

(646) 962-9600
(646) 962-9600
AETNA [Medicare], AETNA-HMO, AETNA-PPO, Aetna-Weill Cornell POS, Affinity Access, Affinity Health Plan, Amida Care, Blue Priority Network, CIGNA, EBCBS HMO, EBCBS Mediblue, EBCBS Pathway X, EBCBS Pathway X Enhanced, EBCBS PPO/EPO, Emblem Select Care, Empire BCBS HealthPlus, Empire BCBS HealthPlus (CHP), Fidelis Care, GHI, Health First, Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP), Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicaid], Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) [Medicare], Medicaid, Medicare, Oxford Freedom, Oxford Health Plans [Liberty], Oxford Health Plans [Medicare], Oxford Health Plans [Metro/Core/Charter], POMCO, Rockefeller University-CoreSource, UHC Compass, UHC Medicare, United Empire Plan, United Health Care [Community Plan], United Healthcare Commercial, VNSNY CHOICE Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
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