Unlike women who experience menopause, there is no equivalent condition called andropause in men. The hormone responsible for masculine traits, testosterone, continues to be secreted throughout a man's life. This perpetual stimulation often leads to the enlargement of the prostate gland as men age. Around the age of 45, approximately 3 to 4% of men experience prostate gland enlargement. The enlarged gland obstructs the flow of urine, resulting in bothersome symptoms such as difficulty in urination, frequent nighttime urination, incomplete bladder emptying, and sometimes even urinary tract infections or blood in the urine.

Conventional techniques such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) using laser or bipolar electrical energy can be challenging to convince patients to undergo. In such cases, newer techniques like UroLift have emerged as a promising alternative. UroLift is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient or daycare basis. In some cases, general anesthesia may be preferred based on patient preference or coexisting comorbidities.

The procedure involves placing tiny implants, similar to rubber bands or pillars, to push the prostatic tissue away from the urethra. Typically, one to four implants are used, with four being the maximum. Using a cystoscope or endoscope inserted through the urethra, we deploy these implants symmetrically, starting with one pillar on one side of the prostate and adding a second pillar on the opposite side. Additional pillars may be added as necessary.