An enlarged prostate is one of the most common parts of aging for men — and one of the most disruptive, with nighttime bathroom trips, a weak stream, and constant urgency wearing on daily life. The good news is that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is very treatable, and modern options can relieve symptoms while protecting the things men care about most, including sexual function. The first step is simply understanding what’s happening and what your choices are.
Dr. Justin Houman is a board-certified urologist, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. As a men’s health specialist, he treats BPH with a perspective many practices overlook — relieving urinary symptoms while doing everything possible to preserve erectile and ejaculatory function, which some older treatments can compromise. His experience spans the full range, from medication to minimally invasive procedures like UroLift and Rezum to surgical options when they’re needed.
I had an excellent experience with Dr. Justin Houman, who is truly an expert in male fertility. He took the time to listen carefully and explain all the available options in a way that was easy to understand. His approach is compassionate, professional, and very thorough. I felt confident knowing I was in the care of someone highly specialized in men’s reproductive health. If you are looking for a knowledgeable and caring physician to help with male fertility concerns, I highly recommend Dr. Houman.
What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that becomes increasingly common with age. As the prostate grows, it can press on the urethra and restrict urine flow, causing the urinary symptoms that bring most men in. It’s important to know that BPH is not prostate cancer and does not raise your risk of it — though because some symptoms can overlap with other prostate conditions, an evaluation that may include a PSA test helps confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate
The symptoms of BPH are mostly related to urination and tend to develop gradually:
- Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia)
- A weak or slow urine stream
- A sudden, urgent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting urination
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Dribbling after urination
- In more advanced cases, an inability to urinate (urinary retention)
What Causes an Enlarged Prostate?
BPH is largely a natural part of aging, driven in part by lifelong hormonal changes — particularly the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on prostate tissue. It’s remarkably common: by some estimates, it affects roughly half of men in their 50s and the large majority of men in their 80s. Family history, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease can all increase the likelihood or severity of symptoms.
BPH Treatment Options in Los Angeles
Treatment is tailored to your symptoms, prostate size, and preferences, ranging from medication to minimally invasive and surgical options:
- Medications: Alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin relax the prostate and bladder neck to improve flow, while 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride can gradually shrink the prostate; the two are sometimes combined.
- UroLift: A minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny implants to lift and hold enlarged tissue away from the urethra, often performed in-office and designed to preserve sexual function.
- Rezum Water Vapor Therapy: Uses targeted steam to shrink excess prostate tissue, with symptom relief developing over a few weeks and preservation of sexual function.
- Surgical Options (TURP, HoLEP): For larger prostates or more severe symptoms, transurethral resection (TURP) or Holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) remove obstructing tissue for durable, long-term relief.
BPH Treatment and Sexual Function
For many men, this is the deciding factor. Some traditional BPH treatments — including certain medications and surgeries like TURP — can affect ejaculation or, less commonly, erections. Newer minimally invasive options such as UroLift and Rezum were specifically designed to relieve urinary symptoms while preserving sexual function. As a men’s health specialist, Dr. Houman weighs these considerations carefully and helps you choose an approach that protects your quality of life on every front.
Frequently Asked Questions About BPH
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No — BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement and does not increase your risk of prostate cancer, though an evaluation helps rule out other conditions.
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It depends on your symptoms, prostate size, and preferences; options range from medication to minimally invasive procedures like UroLift and Rezum to surgery for more severe cases.
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Some older treatments can affect ejaculation or erections, but minimally invasive options such as UroLift and Rezum are designed to preserve sexual function.
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Often, yes — many men do well with medication or minimally invasive in-office procedures, reserving surgery for larger prostates or more severe symptoms.
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Untreated BPH can worsen and, in some cases, lead to urinary retention, bladder problems, recurrent infections, or kidney strain, so persistent symptoms are worth evaluating.
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A thorough evaluation of your symptoms, prostate size, and goals — including sexual health — guides the recommendation Dr. Houman tailors to you.
Why Choose Dr. Houman for BPH Treatment in Los Angeles
- Sexual-Function-Preserving Options: Minimally invasive treatments like UroLift and Rezum that protect quality of life.
- Full Range of BPH Care: From medication to advanced surgical procedures, matched to your needs.
- Men’s Health Perspective: Urinary relief considered alongside erectile and ejaculatory health.
- Board-Certified Urologic Expertise: Experienced, personalized treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Meet Dr. Houman
Expert in Men’s Health with Tower Urology and Cedars Sinai
Dr. Justin Houman, MD, FACS is a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained microsurgeon at Tower Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His subspecialty training in male reproductive medicine and microsurgery is held by fewer than 2% of practicing urologists in the United States.
His clinical focus is narrow by design. Varicoceles, chronic testicular pain, male infertility, vasectomy, testosterone optimization, erectile dysfunction, penile implant surgery, and Peyronie’s disease are not add-on services here. They are the practice. Patients travel from across the country and internationally for procedures, particularly microsurgical varicocelectomy, spermatic cord denervation, and inflatable penile implant surgery, that require a level of subspecialty training and surgical volume most urology practices do not have.
BPH Treatment in Los Angeles
If an enlarged prostate is interrupting your sleep, your routine, or your peace of mind, effective relief is within reach — often without compromising your sexual health. Dr. Houman offers the full range of BPH treatments, tailored to your symptoms and goals, for men across Los Angeles and Southern California. Contact the Los Angeles office to schedule a consultation and take back control of your day.
