[Pharmacotherapy of benign prostatic syndrome : Medications, innovations and future prospects]

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect the majority of men over 60 years old in Germany to varying degrees. These symptoms include issues with bladder storage and bladder emptying. The most common cause of such disorders by far is prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH), which leads to urethral narrowing (benign prostatic obstruction, BPO). Due to the aging population, the prevalence of BPH is steadily increasing and a good understanding of individualized patient treatment is of major importance. Treatment options range from watchful waiting and behavioral therapy to phytotherapy and pharmacotherapy up to surgical procedures. While the range of surgical and interventional therapeutic options is rapidly expanding, innovations in conservative treatment procedures have lagged behind in recent years; however, new drugs and combination treatment with existing medications offer promising possibilities to improve the quality of life and slow progression of the disease in patients.