Could UroLift Help When BPH Medications Are Not Enough?
UroLift can be an effective option when benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) medications aren’t giving you enough relief or are causing unwanted side effects.
Dr. Anand Shridharani offers this solution for men with urinary concerns at his Chattanooga, TN, practice. He is a board-certified, fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in male reproductive and prosthetic urology, uses the latest urologic techniques, and involves you in your care decisions.
Why Might BPH Medication Stop Being Enough?
BPH can narrow the urethra and make it harder for urine to leave the bladder. You might notice a weak stream, hesitation, frequent urination, nighttime bathroom trips, or a sense that your bladder isn’t empty.
Medication helps many men, but it doesn’t work equally well for everyone. Alpha-blockers relax muscles around the prostate and bladder neck, while 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors can gradually shrink prostate tissue. Some men still have bothersome symptoms after trying medication, while others experience side effects such as dizziness or sexual changes, including problems with ejaculation or erectile function.
If urinary issues continue to interfere with sleep, work, travel, or everyday routines, it may be worth discussing another option.
How Does UroLift Work?
UroLift uses small implants to hold enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra. That creates more room for urine to pass without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue.
Dr. Shridharani performs UroLift with local anesthesia, with sedation available when needed. His UroLift procedures usually take less than an hour. UroLift is also associated with a low risk of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, making preservation of sexual function an important consideration for some patients.
You can still have other BPH care later if your symptoms change. UroLift does not necessarily prevent future procedures such as HoLEP or other prostate surgery, although the existing implants may affect surgical planning and technique.
How Do You Know if UroLift Fits Your Symptoms?
Not every man with BPH is a match for UroLift. Your evaluation can include a review of your symptoms, urine testing, a urine flow study, and cystoscopy. Those findings help determine what’s causing the blockage and which solution makes sense for you.
UroLift is especially worth discussing when medication hasn’t provided enough relief, side effects are getting in the way, or you want to explore a minimally invasive way to improve urine flow.
Talk About BPH Care in Chattanooga, TN
Persistent urinary symptoms don’t have to become part of your normal routine. To discuss UroLift and other BPH options with Dr. Anand Shridharani in Chattanooga, TN, contact us or call 423-778-4636 (4MEN).
