Richard Levin, MD Richard Levin, MD

(305) 932-4444 Request Appointment

BPH Specialist in North Miami FL

If you would like more information about BPH symptoms or treatment and are in the Miami, Florida area, contact Dr. Richard Levin at (305) 932-4444. Dr. Levin is board certified by the American Board of Urology and has over 25 years of experience diagnosing and treating BPH. Dr. Levin treats BPH for patients from Aventura, Hollywood, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Hallandale, and the surrounding area.

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What is BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition in which the prostate enlarges as men get older. BPH is a very common condition that affects over 42 million men in the US1 and over 660 million aging men worldwide.2.3 Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s have BPH.2 While BPH is a benign condition and unrelated to prostate cancer, it can greatly affect a man’s quality of life.

As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing bothersome urinary symptoms. If left untreated, BPH can lead to permanent bladder damage.4 

Symptoms include:5,6

  • Frequent need to urinate both day and night
  • Weak or slow urinary stream
  • A sense that you cannot completely empty your bladder
  • Difficulty or delay in starting urination
  • Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
  • A urinary stream that stops and starts

Symptoms of BPH can cause loss of productivity, depression, and decreased quality of life.7

If you suffer from the above symptoms, you are not alone. BPH is the leading reason men visit a urologist.8

You can measure the severity of your BPH symptoms by taking the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Sharing this information with your physician will help them understand the severity of your symptoms.

normal prostate vs protate with BPH

Even watchful waiting has its risks. Bladder outlet obstruction could result in irreversible bladder damage if left untreated4

Bladder Disease Progression

References

  1. NeoTract US Market Model estimates for 2020, data on file.
  2. Berry, et al., Journal of Urology 1984
  3. US Census Bureau international database worldwide population estimates for 2020
  4. Tubaro, Drugs Aging 2003
  5. Rosenberg, Int J Clin Pract 2007
  6. Vuichoud, Can J Urol 2015
  7. Speakman, BJUI International 2014
  8. IMS Health NDTI Urology Specialty Profile Report 2013

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What Causes BPH?

It is not perfectly clear as to what leads the prostate to grow larger and larger during a man’s life. Significant growth during puberty is expected and completely normal, though research shows that the prostate again begins slowly increasing in size from age 25 and continues throughout the man’s life.

Who Is at Risk for BPH?

Since gradual prostate growth is consistent among a large majority of men, it is extremely common for this condition to be diagnosed in those of an older age. Statistically speaking, BPH affects:

  • 20% of men over 50
  • 60% of men over 60
  • 70% of men over 70
  • 90% of men over 80

In addition to age, other risk factors include having a family history of BPH, being obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle that does not include regular exercise, having type 2 diabetes, and experiencing erectile dysfunction.

How Does Dr. Levin Diagnose BPH?

Men typically have the health of their prostate evaluated during yearly physical examinations with their physician. This simple screening is often able to detect superficial abnormalities of the prostate, such as unusually large sizing. Patients who schedule a consultation with Dr. Levin regarding BPH will begin by thoroughly discussing their symptoms, personal medical history, and family medical history. A physical evaluation is often performed as well, and additional diagnostic tests may be ordered to analyze the functionality of the patient’s urinary system.

Is BPH Related to Prostate Cancer?

No. Because BPH is a benign condition, its symptoms have absolutely nothing to do with cancerous cell growth of the prostate.

Schedule a BPH Consultation

If you have more questions about BPH, consult with urologist Richard Levin, MD by calling (305) 932-4444. You can also request an appointment at our urology clinic in Aventura, FL online.

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