What is Movember?
Right after Halloween, you might be noticing that your normally clean-shaven neighbors or co-workers are now sporting mustaches. During the month of November, men across the country pledge to grow mustaches as part of “Movember” – an effort to raise awareness for men’s health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide awareness. As the month goes on, the mustaches grow longer and serve as a conversation starter about the importance of men’s health.
Prostate Health – affecting men of all ages
An important focus of Movember is prostate health. Prostate issues can affect men of all ages, not just older than 60.
“Prostate issues can affect younger men too,” says Dr. Noah Allen, a urologist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “Prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, is the most common issue. Enlarged prostates are most typical in men over the age of 40.”
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:
- Urinary frequency
- Excessive urination at night
- Sense of incomplete bladder emptying
- Urge to urinate
- Urinary leakage
- Weak urinary stream
Treatment options for enlarged prostates
Traditional treatments for an enlarged prostate include medications that relax the smooth muscles of the prostate and/or shrink the size of the prostate.
Patients who do not receive symptom relief with medication typically undergo TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), which is a surgical procedure that removes the enlarged prostate tissue to allow easier passage of urine through the urinary channel. The TURP surgery can have negative side effects, including retrograde ejaculation during intercourse.
St. Elizabeth offers a new prostate treatment option
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is now offering patients with enlarged prostates a new minimally invasive treatment – the UroLift.
“This procedure pins back the enlarged prostate to open the urinary channel without the risk of sexual side effects, which can be an issue with TURP,” explains Dr. Allen. “It’s also an outpatient procedure, so our patients can get home quickly to their families. We’re excited to offer this treatment option to our Northern Kentucky patients.”
The urology team at St. Elizabeth will perform the first UroLift procedures on patients in November 2017.
Tips for keeping your prostate healthy
Dr. Allen recommends a healthy lifestyle to help maintain prostate health, including exercise, a healthy diet, living an active lifestyle and avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs. The American Urology Association (AUA) recommends prostate screenings beginning at 50 years old, earlier if you have a family history of prostate issues or are having urinary issues.
For more information or to schedule an appointment at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, please call 1-800-737-7900 or visit our website at stelizabeth.com.
