What is Nocturia?

Nocturia is a condition in which people wake up to urinate more than once at night. Nocturia can happen to just about anyone for varied reasons including pregnancy, a multitude of illnesses or even just drinking too much liquid before bed. In men, nocturia is a very common and very disruptive symptom of BPH or enlarged prostate. Because the prostate is enlarged, additional pressure is put on the urethra – the tube through which urine flows from the bladder and out of the body – and as a result, urine is retained in the bladder. Sufferers may feel the need to urinate more often or more urgently, including at night.

Nocturia is a cause of sleepless nights, but by its very nature, nocturia doesn’t just affect the BPH patient. A common second-hand effect of nocturia is that the sufferer’s significant other will often be disturbed as well. As the patient wakes to go to the bathroom, most often so will their significant other. The result can lead to difficult nights, drowsy days and many of the most common consequences of lack of sleep – irritability, weight gain, lack of focus and much more.

Nocturia, when the result of an enlarged prostate, can be improved or eliminated altogether with an effective enlarged prostate treatment. In-office BPH therapies such as Cooled ThermoTherapy^TM and Prostiva RF® Therapy, provided by Urologix, Inc., are safe, effective and durable BPH therapies with low rates of side effects^1,2.

Nocturia is the single most disruptive and overwhelming conditions associated with an enlarged prostate simply because its effects have such an extensive impact on a person’s quality of life.³

Check out our full article on nocturia and please speak to your urologist to see how nocturia can be managed in your particular circumstance.

¹Mynderse, L., et al, 5 year Results of a Multi-Center Trial of a New Generation Cooled TUMT for BPH, Journal of Urology, May 2001

²Hill, B., et al Transurethreal Needle Ablation vs TURP for the Treatment of Symptomatic BPH: 5 Year Results of a Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Clinical Trial, Journal of Urology Vol 171, 2336-2340, June 2004

³ Dubeau, C. E., Simon, S. E., Morris, J. N.: The effect of urinary incontinence on quality of life in older nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc 2006; 54: 1325