Benign prostate hyperplasia in the older male

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is one of the most common diseases of aging men and can be associated with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms that affect quality of life by interfering with normal daily activities and sleep patterns. Standardized methodologies for diagnosis and assessment of symptom severity to direct treatment selection have been promulgated. Patients with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms are more likely to benefit from intervention with either medical, surgical or one of the emerging minimally invasive therapies. Medical therapy is the first line of therapy for symptomatic patients, reserving surgical intervention for patients with complications from benign prostatic hyperplasia or for those desiring more definitive initial therapy. Phytotherapeutic (herbal supplement) therapies are very popular around the world and many men take them without a prescription. Minimally invasive therapies seek to emulate the results of surgical resection, while avoiding the morbidity.