Urology. 1999 Jul; 54(1): 86-9.

Phytotherapeutic agents in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms: a demographic analysis of awareness and use at the University of Chicago.

Bales GT, Christiano AP, Kirsh EJ, Gerber GS.

Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To assess awareness and use of phytotherapeutic agents in treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A survey was conducted of 1280 patients presenting to the University of Chicago Hospitals urology clinic. The questions pertained to age, race, educational level, and use of prescription and nonprescription medications for urinary symptoms. RESULTS: Of 1264 patients filling out the surveys correctly, the 51 to 60-year-old age range demonstrated the greatest percentage of use of these agents. Whites were nearly twice as likely as their African American counterparts to use medicinal botanicals. Men with college or graduate school degrees were 1.5 times as likely to use medicinal botanicals in treating LUTS. More than 50% of men using phytotherapeutic drugs were also taking prescription medications for the urinary symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant use of phytotherapeutic agents in men with LUTS, although there is variability in their use between patient groups. American physicians need some understanding of these agents to best advise and treat their patients.