One may feel that there are not a lot of options for enlarged prostate patients, but as a matter of fact, more and better treatment options are being discovered by the day. Thanks to modern technology, different techniques are being developed and improved in order to handle different kinds of prostate enlargement conditions.

It may be an age-old affliction, but that doesn't mean we have to stick with outdated treatment options for enlarged prostate. Traditionally, an enlarged prostate would be treated with physical therapy and painful, invasive surgery. In the past, these methods sometimes came with significant health risks.

But in the modern age, methods that are less invasive - and often also less risky - are being used to treat these conditions. Among these methods is laser surgery, which involves the use of highly concentrated laser light in eliminating overgrown tissue on the prostate. The laser light does not penetrate too deeply, so the tissues around the prostate itself are not damaged. This method still requires some hospital stay, similar to a traditional surgery, but it could be as brief as an overnight stay. Laser prostatectomy is now a popular method of controlling prostate enlargement, though many would still consider it a drastic measure.

Transurethral incision and resection are two less invasive methods of surgery. They are different in that transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered a major surgery, contrary to transurethral incision (TUIP). As their names imply, TURP involves the surgical removal of obstructing tissues on the prostate, thus making urination easier; on the other hand, TUIP only involves the creation of small incisions that would allow urine to pass out of the body more freely. The chance of needing to return for a second surgery is less in TURP than in TUIP, though the cost of surgery and the recuperation time is often more with TURP.

Medication is a tried and tested method of treating prostate enlargement, one that is most often recommended for men who only suffer from mild to moderate symptoms. Alpha blockers such as Terazosin (Hytrin) and Doxazosin (Cardura) relax the muscles around the neck of the bladder and make it easier to urinate. These medicines, incidentally, are also used in treating high blood conditions. Side effects are often minimal and controllable. Combined with lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, sleeping and exercise routines, medication could be the most cost efficient and most effective treatment options for enlarged prostate, in the long run.