Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or enlargement of the prostate gland, is one of the most common age-related conditions affecting men.
As the prostate enlarges, it compresses the urethra, leading to bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as frequent urination, nocturia, urgency, weak urinary stream, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
Left unaddressed, these symptoms can significantly impact quality of life, sleep, productivity, and overall well-being.
Despite its high prevalence, awareness of BPH and the range of available treatment options remains limited in India. Many men continue to consider urinary symptoms as a normal part of ageing and delay seeking medical advice. Building greater awareness around early evaluation and timely treatment is therefore essential to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. B Karthik Rao, Additional Director Urology at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru commented that for many years, treatment options for BPH largely consisted of long-term medical therapy or conventional surgery such as Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP).
However, advances in urology have led to the emergence of Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies (MISTs), offering appropriately selected patients effective symptom relief with reduced recovery time and preservation of quality of life.
He further added, “One such therapy is the Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL), performed using the UroLift™ System. The procedure relieves obstruction without heating, cutting, removing, or destroying prostate tissue.
It is designed to provide rapid symptom improvement while preserving sexual function, and many patients can avoid postoperative catheterisation.”
Commenting on the evolving treatment landscape, Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director of Urology, Uro-Oncology, Andrology, Transplant & Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, said:
“Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies are increasingly becoming an important part of BPH management in India. The Prostatic Urethral Lift which is the UroLift SystemTM is one such option which offers effective symptom relief while enabling faster recovery and preservation of quality of life for appropriately selected patients. At Fortis, we have successfully completed more than 150 UroLift procedures, and it is encouraging to see the procedure crossing the milestone of over 1,000 cases across India. Our hospital recently hosted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) workshop that brought together urologists from across India and international faculty to discuss patient selection, procedural techniques, clinical evidence, and hands-on learning for the Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure.”
He further adds that “The milestone reflects the growing adoption of minimally invasive treatment options by Indian urologists and increasing confidence among patients seeking alternatives to long-term medication and conventional surgery.
“Alongside patient awareness, continuous medical education remains equally important in expanding access to newer treatment options. Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru has established itself as a leading Centre of Education for UroLift training and physician education in India.
“Such educational initiatives play a critical role in enabling the safe and appropriate adoption of emerging technologies while promoting evidence-based clinical practice. As awareness among both patients and healthcare professionals continues to grow, minimally invasive therapies are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future management of BPH in India, offering suitable patients an opportunity to achieve symptom relief with minimal disruption to their daily lives.”
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