If your urination problem caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is mild to moderate and does not bother you, home treatment may be all you need to help keep your symptoms from interfering with your daily activities. Your doctor may want to see you regularly to check on your symptoms.

The following tips may help minimize your symptoms:

• Practice "double voiding." Urinate as much as possible, relax for a few moments, and then urinate again.
• Relax before you urinate. Worrying about your symptoms can make them worse.
• Take plenty of time to urinate.
• Urinate while sitting down instead of standing.
• Think of other things or read while you are waiting.
• Turn on a faucet or picture running water in your mind. This may help get your urine flowing.
• Do not limit your fluid intake to avoid urinating. You could become dehydrated, which can cause other problems.
• Drink fluids throughout the day.
• If you often wake up because you need to urinate, limit your fluid intake in the evening, and empty your bladder before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol. These substances make your body try to get rid of water and can make you urinate more often.
• If possible, avoid medicines that can make urination difficult, such as nonprescription antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, and allergy pills. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about any medicines you take.

You may want to try an herbal therapy for BPH, such as saw palmetto or beta-sitosterol. Your doctor can help you decide if an herbal therapy might be helpful.

Call your doctor if:

• You are completely unable to urinate.
• Urination is painful and you have a fever over 100F, chills, or body aches.
• You have pain in your lower back, just below your rib cage, that is not related to an injury or physical activity.
• There is blood or pus in your urine.
• Your symptoms are getting worse.