Canadian women encouraged to tell their men that size does matter



(NC) — It is a question men have been sheepishly asking women for ages—“Does size really matter?” For the sake of their health, women need to give their men a straight answer—“YES!”—particularly when it comes to their prostate.

The condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, causes the prostate to become enlarged and can lead to symptoms such as frequent urination, inability to empty the bladder completely, or a weak urine stream. It can also have a serious impact on quality of life as men deal with regular breaks in sleep at night, constant interruptions during the day and the need to restrict social activities to be near a bathroom.

According to the recent Keep Your Eye On The Ball Poll supported by the Canadian Urological Association via a grant from GlaxoSmithKline, almost 70 per cent of Canadian men aged 50 and over had never heard of BPH and of those who had, 37 per cent could not name its symptoms. The survey also found that a quarter of men over 50 have never discussed prostate health with their doctors.

Bigger isn't Always Better

So how do men know if their prostate is in check or out of control? A healthy prostate is approximately the size of a golf ball, about 1.5 inches in diameter. If BPH is left untreated, the prostate can continue to grow, sometimes as large as a softball. It's important ladies encourage their men to get in the game and get their prostate checked because the condition can progress and, if left untreated, potentially lead to worsening symptoms and even the need for invasive surgery.

When men reach the age of 50, they should begin getting a prostate exam annually and, no matter what their age, be proactive in bringing up any BPH-related symptoms with their doctor or urologist. There are options to help manage the condition ranging from lifestyle modifications, like limiting evening fluid intake, to medications that can control their symptoms and shrink the prostate to reduce the incidence of future complications and the need for invasive surgery. For more information, visit www.MyBPH.ca.

Even though some BPH-related symptoms may be a normal part of aging, there's no reason those bothersome symptoms need be a burden for men—or the women who help keep them healthy. While the debate about the ideal size of other parts of the male anatomy may continue, in the case of an enlarged prostate, both men and women can agree that bigger, isn't better


Comments

There are 0 comments on this post

Leave A Comment