“What you’re experiencing isn’t just aging,” Dr. Reynolds said. “It’s bladder trabeculation—and most men are told to just ‘watch and wait.’
“Let me show you the damage.”
He drew two circles. “First, the prostate swells and clamps the urethra shut. Second, the bladder is forced to push against a closed door, growing thicker and scarred. Third, the elastic bladder turns stiff—what we call a ‘leather bladder.’
“And once that fibrosis sets in, it’s often irreversible. Even if we fix the prostate, the bladder is already ruined.”
I paused. “So ‘watchful waiting’ causes damage?”
“Exactly,” he said. “You’re not standing still. Every night you wait, your bladder is being remodeled into a non-functional organ.”