# What did old timers use for BPH before Flomax?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788 "2009-12-18T20:19:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788/41 "2010-01-01T02:40:42Z")

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> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> Historically sailors of all varieties are stereotyped as picking up STDs at their ports of call. These invariably cause a certain number of cases of urethritis which result in urethral strictures, and the need for dilation.

Woosh 😉

Anyone who has served is more than aware of this. Indeed, I had to endure a bit of ribbing about it when I told my shipmates why I had gone to the doctor—nobody believed my claims of innocence.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788/42 "2010-01-01T14:51:30Z")

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> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> Woosh 😉

I know what you meant, but this is GQ, so I try to provide what clarity I can here.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788/43 "2010-01-01T14:53:35Z")

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> [@Ignatz](#):
>
> A urethral stricture is different from bph, right?

right

> [@](#):
>
> Could a simple NSU cause a stricture 20 years later?

Very unlikely. But recurrent urethritis, or chronic untreated urethritis which remains mostly asymptomatic over time can eventually result in a stricture down the road.

> [@](#):
>
> Does the Green Light Laser treatment involve anesthetic? Hospital admittance overnight?

Not my area of expertise, so I’ll let someone who knows respond to this part.

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-old-timers-use-for-bph-before-flomax/521788/44 "2010-01-01T21:51:51Z")

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> [@Ignatz](#):
>
> Does the Green Light Laser treatment involve anesthetic? Hospital admittance overnight?

No and no. It is entirely painless. IIRC, you are given a relaxant not an anesthetic. The doctor gave me the option to stay in the hospital overnight to see if I were able to urinate. I refused, and it took another 12 hours before I was able to urinate.

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