Professor Chris Chapple
Secretary General, European Association of Urology
Do you know what benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) is? If not, you are not alone.
A survey was recently conducted in the United Kingdom, France and Germany, which found that, out of the 1,002 male respondents in the UK, aged 50 and above, 37.5% did not know what BPE is. France reported 33%, while in Germany 45% of men were unfamiliar with BPE.
BPE, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate gland. The symptoms include frequent urination (including at night), difficulty in urinating and/or a weak stream of urine, and pain while urinating.
You need to know what your prostate is
The results of the survey also showed that 75% of men above the age of 50, did not know what the prostate’s main function is.
The prostate is a gland vital to men’s sexual health as it produces prostatic fluid which nourishes and protects the sperm.
During ejaculation, the prostate squeezes this fluid into the urethra and it is then expelled with sperm as semen.
It’s time to talk about urological health
Having an enlarged prostate does not only affect the men who suffer from it, but their partners as well. In the past, it was considered taboo to talk about urological and sexual health issues, but times have changed.
Campaigns such as Urology Week encourage open discussions among patients, their partners and/or family, and their urologists.
Urology Week is an annual initiative of the European Association of Urology (EAU) where national urological societies, urology practitioners, urology nurses and patients organise diverse activities to spread the word on the importance of urological health.
From 23rd to 27th September this year, Urology Week aims to increase awareness of BPE: What the condition is, symptoms to look for, its treatability despite its prevalence, and the importance of consulting a urologist.
Urologists and other healthcare providers all over Europe are preparing a wide range of activities for Urology Week 2019 such as television and radio press conferences; marathons; open days at clinics and many others.
You too can take part in Urology Week 2019. Visit urologyweek.org to add an event of your own and to view other events planned in other countries. Download the posters, share your event or your story via social media, and include the hashtag #urologyweek. No matter the effort, big or small, you can make a difference and help boost awareness. And always remember, BPE is treatable and your urologist can help.
