For many men over 50, frequent trips to the bathroom, interrupted sleep, and the anxiety of long journeys can become unwelcome companions. But for Gary Keene, these symptoms had progressed beyond inconvenience — they had become a source of embarrassment.
Gary’s struggles began a decade ago with an unexpected and urgent need to urinate, a problem he found hard to ignore.
“You’re looking for excuses all the time to use the bathroom,” Gary recalls. “And then when you go on long journeys, if you’re going on an aeroplane or in a car for a long time, you’re thinking to yourself, am I going to be able to make it? Everybody said, ‘Oh, what’s the matter with him? He’s got a weak bladder. He’s just getting old,’ sort of thing, and it becomes a bit of a joke for some people, but it becomes embarrassing for the person themselves.”
Gary’s experience is far from unique. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — or an enlarged prostate — is a common condition affecting more than 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s. While BPH is unrelated to prostate cancer, it can significantly impact quality of life if left untreated. In severe cases, it can even lead to irreversible bladder damage.
Pictured: Gary Keen developed BPH over a decade ago.
Understanding BPH: more than just a part of getting older
The prostate, a small gland about the size of a walnut, sits below the neck of the bladder and wraps around the urethra — the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. As men age, the prostate can enlarge, compressing the urethra and disrupting the normal flow of urine.
Dr Jon Rees, Chair of the Primary Care Urology Society, explains the telltale signs of BPH: “The most common early symptoms are linked to the obstruction of the bladder, which slows down the flow to a poor stream. It’ll give a thing called ‘hesitancy’, so men get to the toilet and they can’t get started. As they’re going, the flow can be quite intermittent and it can also take a long time to finish. Enlargement of the prostate can also start to irritate the bladder, causing symptoms like going more frequently, getting up in the night to pass urine, and having increased urgency.”
Watch Teleflex’s film featuring Gary’s story.
Overcoming the stigma
Despite how common BPH is, many men delay seeking help, often due to embarrassment or the fear of invasive treatment. Gary’s advice to others is simple: don’t ignore the symptoms. “Have a consultation with your local doctor. Tell him exactly what’s going on. Don’t try and beat around the bush, get checked out just in case,” he says. “There are so many alternatives now that are available for this sort of condition, so it’s definitely worth going to see the doctor.”
Dr Rees echoes this sentiment, urging men to break the silence: “I’m used to talking to men about these problems, it doesn’t embarrass me one bit, and I would much prefer men come and tell me openly and honestly what’s going on, because then we can try and help them.”
Exploring less invasive treatment options
Traditional surgical treatments for BPH, such as a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), can be effective but come with the risk of side effects and long recovery times. This has deterred many men from seeking treatment. However, new minimally invasive options are changing the landscape of BPH care.
One such option is the UroLift System, manufactured by Teleflex. It offers a less invasive approach with quicker recovery times, making it a more appealing choice for many men. The UroLift System involves placing small implants to lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way, reducing the obstruction of the urethra. For most patients, this means a rapid improvement in symptoms without the extended downtime associated with traditional surgery.
“In the past, that would have been major surgery,” says Dr Rees. “But more recently, we’ve had the introduction of these minimally invasive technologies, which are often available as a day case procedure or even sometimes under local anaesthetic. These sit somewhere between medication and major surgery, so for many men, this can be a really good option.”
Moving forward with confidence
Despite living with BPH, Gary continues to lead a full and active life. His message to other men is clear: don’t wait until symptoms worsen. The sooner you seek help, the more options you’ll have. With advancements like the UroLift System, managing BPH no longer has to mean choosing between living with uncomfortable symptoms and undergoing major surgery.
By sharing his story, Gary hopes to encourage more men to have open conversations about their health — because when it comes to BPH, silence is never the solution.
