Questions to Ask Your Doctor about BPH Treatment What are the best ways to treat BPH? Am I a candidate for “watchful waiting”? How does watchful waiting work? Questions about Medications Which medications are used to treat BPH? What are alpha-blockers designed to do? What are the side effects and complications associated with the use of alphablockers? How long will I need to take alpha-blockers? What dietary or lifestyle changes will I need to make while taking alpha-blockers? What are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors designed to do? What are the side effects and complications associated with the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors? How long will I need to take 5-alpha reductase inhibitors? What dietary or lifestyle changes will I need to make while taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors? What are the chances BPH will return after I finish my medication? What other treatment options do I have besides medication to treat BPH? Questions about Nonsurgical Procedures Which nonsurgical treatments for BPH may be right for me? What is transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TUNA? How long does it take to recover from TUNA? How will TUNA affect my daily activities? How will TUNA affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TUNA? What is transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TUMT? How long does it take to recover from TUMT? How will TUMT affect my daily activities? How will TUMT affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TUMT? What is photo-selective vaporization (PVP)? What are the side effects and complications associated with PVP? How long does it take to recover from PVP? How will PVP affect my daily activities? How will PVP affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after PVP? What is transurethral dilation (TUBD)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TUBD? How long does it take to recover from TUBD? How will TUBD affect my daily activities? How will TUBD affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TUBD? What is “Prop it Open” (insertion of a stent)? What are the side effects and complications associated with a stent? How long does it take to recover from insertion of a stent? How will insertion of a stent affect my daily activities? How will insertion of a stent affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after insertion of a stent? Questions about Surgery What is transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TUIP? How long does it take to recover from TUIP? How will TUIP affect my daily activities? How will TUIP affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TUIP? What is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TURP? How long does it take to recover from TURP? How will TURP affect my daily activities? How will TURP affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TURP? What is transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TVP)? What are the side effects and complications associated with TVP? How long does it take to recover from TVP? How will TVP affect my daily activities? How will TVP affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after TVP? Will I need a prostatectomy to treat BPH? What are the side effects and complications associated with prostatectomy? How long does it take to recover from a prostatectomy? How will a prostatectomy affect my daily activities? How will a prostatectomy affect my sex life? What are the chances BPH will return after prostatectomy? Other Questions What natural and alternative treatments are available for BPH? Which supplements can I take to help treat the symptoms of BPH? What dietary and lifestyle changes can I make to help ensure I never get BPH again? Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Prostatitis Treatment What is prostatitis? What are the most effective ways to treat bacterial prostatitis? What are the most effective ways to treat nonbacterial prostatitis? What are the most effective ways to treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome? Are there any side effects or complications associated with antibiotic treatment? How effective is antibiotic treatment in eliminating bacterial prostatitis? How long will I need to take the antibiotics? Will the antibiotics interact with other medications or supplements I may be taking? What type of pain medication will be prescribed? Will I need to be hospitalized to treat prostatitis? Is surgery ever needed to treat prostatitis? Are there any alternative/complementary treatments for prostatitis? Are there any supplements I can take to treat prostatitis? What are the chances that prostatitis will recur after treatment? What are the risk factors for prostatitis? How often will I need to see my doctor for checkups? How will treatment affect my daily activities? Are there any dietary changes I will need to make during treatment? How will treatment affect my sex life? What can I do to prevent prostatitis from occurring again? What dietary and/or lifestyle changes can I make to help prevent the return of prostatitis? NOTES