Top 10 tips43

If your partner is suffering from the symptoms of BPH you can help him with the following tips. Don't forget that he can get his bladder problems sorted out. And encourage him to talk to a healthcare professional if he's at all worried about his symptoms.

Remember that he’s probably a bit embarrassed about his problem, so approach the subject as tactfully and gently as you can. Click here to see how other people cope with men who have symptoms of BPH.

  1. He needs to try and relax when he pees. This will help it to flow better.
  2. If he holds on a bit longer each time he needs to go, the bladder gets used to holding more urine – it’s called bladder retraining.
  3. Herbal remedies can sometimes help improve urinary symptoms – there is evidence both for and against such treatment working44. You can get these from health food stores.
  4. When you don’t want an occasion interrupted with his constant trips to the loo, suggest that he doesn’t drink much for the one or two hours beforehand – he should take care not to limit his overall intake of drinks, he still needs about 1.5 litres per day.
  5. Suggest that he minimises his alcohol consumption. Alcohol can irritate the bladder resulting in an urge to pee.
  6. Ideally, he should steer clear of coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks. These act as diuretics, making the body produce more urine so he needs to go to the loo more often.
  7. He could try what doctors call "double voiding" – when he thinks he's finished, he should try going again. This helps to make sure the bladder is empty.
  8. Breathing exercises and distraction can help him deal with an urgent need to pee. You can do the exercises with him or distract him from his bladder by starting a discussion about something else.
  9. Foods that contain zinc and lycopenes are reputed to be good for the prostate gland. These can be found in cooked tomatoes, tomato ketchup, pomegranate seeds, broccoli, wheat germ and shellfish. 45
  10. He should ensure his diet includes an adequate amount of fibre (fresh fruit and vegetables) and not an excessive amount of foods high in animal fat46.