Tag: Urinary Issues in Men

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Enlarged Prostate

BPH Medications and Sexual Dysfunction: Something to Consider

Some treatment methods for an enlarged prostate can increase problems with sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, even cause them.

Some treatment methods for an enlarged prostate can increase problems with sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, even cause them.

Though prescription drugs are often very good at improving the symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia- such as urinary issues, they can come with their own set of problems. Because of this, some men may resort to surgery, however, that too comes with its risks regarding sexual function.

Some surgical procedures for men with an enlarged prostate can increase the risk of inadvertently damaging structures around the penis which can lead to erectile dysfunction and other problems.

But before we get to that, let’s take a look at some of the common BPH medications and the effect they can have on sexual health.

We’ll start with the commonly prescribed 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors and the impact these medications that are used to shrink the prostate and reduce BPH symptoms can have on sexual health.

5-Alpha reductase inhibitors show promising results in their ability to shrink the prostate and reduce benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms.

These medications work by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme from converting some of the body’s testosterone into dihydrotestosterone- which can cause further prostate growth. Unfortunately, one of the most common side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors is sexual problems.

Several clinical trials have looked at the problem of side effects caused by the 5-alpha inhibitor finasteride, also known by the brand name Proscar.

These studies found that sexual adverse effects occur at the rates of 2.1% to 3.8%, erectile dysfunction (ED) being the most common, followed by ejaculatory dysfunction and loss of libido.

Another common 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, dutasteride (Avodart), has neem known to cause a multitude of adverse effects concerning sexual function. 3.4 to 15.8% of men treated with dutasteride experience erection problems, loss of libido, and reduced semen volume.

Most of these sexual issues caused by 5-alpha inhibitors are believed to be due to their effect on decreasing levels of dihydrotestosterone which is a natural sex hormone and is essential for normal sexual function.

Another type of medication that is commonly prescribed to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate is alpha-blockers.

Alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin ( Flomax) doxazosin (Cardura), and terazosin (Hytrin) work by relaxing the bladder neck, and prostate muscles. Unfortunately, they can also cause erectile issues such as decreased ejaculation. Men who take these medications may also experience lower sperm count, decreased sperm volume, and lower sperm movement.

According to a 2008, Cochrane systematic review that looked at the sexual side effects of Flomax for BPH, 63% of users reported some form of side effect from the medication. The side effects of tamsulosin that were reported the most included erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, and something called retrograde ejaculation or a dry orgasm- where the semen exits into the bladder rather than out of the penis.

Combination medication therapies, such as dutasteride and tamsulosin ( brand name Jalyn), can also cause sexual problems.

Clinical trials found that the most common adverse reactions reported were impotence, decreased libido, breast disorders (including breast enlargement and tenderness), ejaculation disorders, and dizziness.

In fact, studies have found that ejaculation disorders occurred significantly more in subjects receiving coadministration therapy (11%) compared with those receiving dutasteride (2%) or tamsulosin (4%) as monotherapy.

The Bottom Line:  Issues with sexual dysfunction that are caused by certain BPH treatment medications should be taken into consideration.

These issues can be very upsetting and have a detrimental effect on a man’s private life and relationships. Therefore it’s important to discuss any risk of sexual problems that can come alongside your preferred treatment method for BPH.

There are many options out there for treating an enlarged prostate, so it’s important to be open and honest about your concerns and work with your doctor to find the best treatment option with the lowest risks of sexual side effects, such as Prostate Artery Embolization.

To learn more about this state-of-the-art procedure, please call and set up a consultation today.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Urinary Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction

The Mayo Clinic Proceedings published the results of a study that looked at the link between BPH urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction.

The periodical Mayo Clinic Proceedings published the results of a study that looked at the link between common BPH urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction.

Researchers studied 2,115 men between the ages of 40 and 79, by having them complete a questionnaire about their sexual function and urinary tract symptoms every two years.

What they found was that sexual function and urinary tract symptoms were indeed related. To put it simply: The greater the urinary symptoms, the lesser the sexual function.

The study also found that the urinary tract symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate that were most associated with sexual dysfunction were:

–  A feeling of urgency

–  Needing to get up multiple times at night to urinate

–  A weak urine stream

–  Straining to start urinating

These urinary symptoms were all associated with:

–  Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection

–  The way men felt about problems with sexual drive, erection, and ejaculation

–  Sexual satisfaction problems

So the solution is to treat the urinary issues caused by BPH, and then as a result, sexual function will improve?

Well, it’s not that simple.

Though there are many ways to treat the urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, some of these treatment methods can actually make things worse, or even cause sexual dysfunction.

In fact, some drugs that are commonly used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia, can actually cause erectile dysfunction and reduce sperm count.

Though prescription drugs are often very good at improving the symptoms of BPH, they do not tackle the real problem, and they can cause their own set of problems, such as ED.

In order to avoid such issues, some men may resort to surgery. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this too can come with the risk of sexual problems.

Many of these surgical procedures for men with an enlarged prostate, can increase the risk of inadvertently damaging structures around the penis which can lead to erectile dysfunction and other problems.

In our next article, we’re going to dive deeper into the connection between BPH treatment methods and sexual dysfunction.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Prostate Artery Embolization, an outpatient procedure with proven results without the risk of sexual issues, please call us and schedule a consultation today!

 

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

To Stand or Not To Stand

Believe it or not, when it comes to urinating with prostate issues- sitting down may be the best choice.

According to research from the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, “sitting down to pee allows for a more favorable urodynamic profile”. This means, roughly, the flow of uring is stronger which can help keep prostate symptoms at bay.

Researchers found that when men stand at a urinal, muscles around the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine are activated- which can actually prevent proper and complete urination- and, in turn, adversely affect the prostate.

This kind of study isn’t new. The researchers stated that “Ever since men had the choice to urinate either standing or sitting, the optimal voiding position ( squatting) has been a topic of discussion.” However, they acknowledged that “Only a handful of studies have investigated the effects of voiding posture on urodynamic parameters by comparing the standing versus the sitting position.” Therefore they went further and conducted a meta-analysis of studies regarding Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ( LUTS).

After analyzing a whopping 2,352 publications and 96 studies, the team was able to narrow down the material to the most viable studies.

What did they find?

They found that the findings were consistent across each study, saying “We found that in patients with LUTS the sitting position is associated with a trend towards a more favorable urodynamic profile.” The profile confirmed each measure they hypothesized about: When men with LUTS sat down to urinate, they did so faster, longer, at a greater pressure, and released more urine than men with LUTS who stood.

Sitting down to urinate is especially beneficial to older men with prostate problems. According to urologist Jamin Brahmbhatt M.D., in an interview published in the online publication Fatherly, “Men may start peeing sitting if their prostates are large and they need to help relax the pelvic muscles in an effort to help push the urine out.” As a result of emptying their bladders more effectively, these men can reduce the risks of cysts and a bevy of other health complications.

In Japan, a new study has shown that since the beginning of the pandemic more Japanese men than ever, are sitting down for relief. The study found that 70% of men sit, compared to 51% a few years back. There is also evidence to support a cultural change surrounding the habit in Germany, France, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Taiwan.

Though there are many health benefits to sitting versus standing, let’s not overlook another contributing factor as to why more men are sitting down to pee- many mothers and partners want them to. Why? It’s quieter, it’s cleaner, and they never have to tell you to put down the toilet seat, again.

So whether you sit or stand to urinate, is ultimately up to you. However, if you do have a prostate condition, or are struggling with LUTS, maybe give sitting down the old college try. It could help you feel better, sleep better, and… it could make your partner happy to never have to put the seat down again.