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Is It Safe to Use Viagra by Men with BPH?

Erectile dysfunction often forces men to think of taking ED medications like Viagra.

This can make their life much more comfortable and happier.

If Viagra works well for you without causing severe side effects, then there is really nothing else to worry about.

Since Viagra is a medication, it is important to make sure that you can use it safely, especially if you have certain health conditions. So, is it safe for you to use Viagra if you have BPH?

What Is BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a health condition associated with enlarged prostate gland.

It is not the same as erectile dysfunction, though both conditions occur or increase with age.

BPH is diagnosed when prostate is enlarged without developing cancer. This health condition occurs due to the fact that prostate keeps growing throughout most of men’s adult life.

That is why a large number of men all over the world are affected by this condition.

The way of BPH treatment is chosen by a healthcare provider based on different factors.

It is known that half of men above 50 years old suffer from symptoms of BPH, and only 10% of them need to undergo surgical or medical intervention.

The following are the symptoms of BPH:

  • Urgent or frequent need to urinate;
  • Inconsistent or weak urine stream;
  • The need to urinate more often at night;
  • Problems to start urinating;
  • Straining during urinating;
  • Dribbling at the end of the urinating process;
  • Problems emptying the bladder;
  • Infection in the urinary tract;
  • Blood in the urine.

What Is Viagra?

Viagra is a widely used ED medication that has been available on the market for a longer period of time than any other ED drug.

It still remains extremely popular despite many strong rivals.

Viagra is a PDE-5 inhibitor, which is able to help blood vessels relax, which results in an increased blood flow.

Thanks to the better blood flow, men taking Viagra can maintain a hard erection. Also, this medication is able to relax muscles around the prostate gland, which helps manage a range of problems associated with BPH.

Viagra was patented by Pfizer Laboratories in 1996 and approved by the FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in 1998.

According to Pfizer, Viagra has an established safety profile and effectiveness.

What Are Effects from the Use of Viagra in Men with BPH?

Men with BHP can experience the symptoms of ED due to the treatment they use, but treatment of ED with Viagra has shown to be able to improve BPH.

For instance, the use of alpha-blockers like doxazosin, terazosin and others may affect men’s sexual ability.

The research has shown that Viagra and some other ED medications like Levitra and Cialis are able to reduce symptoms of BPH.

Currently, none of these ED medications have been approved for treatment of BPH.

In particular, in 2005, there was conducted a study by Northwestern University reported that men of 45 and older with BPH and ED experienced a significant improvement in their sexual ability associated with an enlarged prostate due to the use of Viagra.

Also those men noticed large improvement in urination, including stopping the pain occurred due to BPH.

Is It Safe to Use Viagra if You Have BPH?

Using Viagra for treating of ED and BPH would be a really good and convenient solution for men suffering from both conditions.

The results of several studies are promising, but all of them did not last long enough.

That is why it is impossible to state that it is absolutely safe to use Viagra for a long-term treatment of BPH.

It is important to conduct more studies to ensure that safety and effectiveness of the use of Viagra in men with BPH.

Additional problems may occur due to the use of ED medications along with alpha-blockers, because this may lead to lowering your blood pressure.

It is important to consult your doctor regarding the use of those medications together. You may be recommended to use them at different times to decrease the risk of dizziness or dropping your blood pressure.

Conclusion

The research has shown that patients with BPH can have a range of benefits if they use ED medications like Viagra.

Still, Viagra has not been officially approved for the treatment of BPH, and all the studies that have been conducted were short-term, which means that long-term effects still remain unknown.

Considering everything mentioned above, it is strongly recommended to consult your healthcare provider regarding the use of Viagra or any other ED medications if you have BPH.

Also you should get the important doctor’s recommendations on how to use Viagra with any other medications that you may take to improve the symptoms of BPH.

If you are prescribed with Viagra, you should also control your health condition and follow other recommendations of your healthcare provider to make sure that this medication works well for you without causing any negative effects.