At the recent Ride the Flow event organised by Medical Channel Asia and ROADS.sg, Dr Jay Lim steered the conversation from road safety to men’s health, unpacking BPH in a way that hit home for Singapore’s motorbike community.
It started with roaring engines, but somewhere between the precision riding drills and a convoy to The Handlebar, the conversation shifted to something unexpected: prostate health.
On 12 April 2025, Medical Channel Asia partnered with ROADS.sg for a first-of-its-kind event that blended road safety education with men’s health awareness. While much of the attention was on throttle control and convoy etiquette at the start, it was Dr Jay Lim’s energetic and eye-opening presentation on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that sparked some serious conversations among the riders.
From the Circuit to the Clinic
Held on 12 April 2025, the event gave 50 riders exclusive access to the ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) circuit, where they sharpened their riding skills under the guidance of CDC instructors.
With the convoy formation led by Harley Owners Group Singapore (HOGS), the ride was officially flagged off by Boston Scientific, who also supported the event’s men’s health segment.
The next stop? The Handlebar, where the riders shifted gears from road safety to an interactive Pub Quiz and an interesting health talk – delivered by Dr Jay Lim, Consultant Urologist at PanAsia Surgery – on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate.
Bringing Prostate Health Into Focus
Most riders weren’t expecting to learn about the prostate over burgers and beers. But Dr Lim knew exactly how to strike the right chord with his unique audience.
With a dynamic and relatable approach, Dr Lim broke down the essentials of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – a condition that often begins with subtle symptoms like weak urine flow or frequent night-time urination. If left unaddressed, these can lead to disrupted sleep and a reduced quality of life.
Yet, too many men brush it off, either due to embarrassment or lack of awareness. With the risk of BPH increasing as men age, it was a timely reminder that early recognition and intervention can make a significant difference. Beyond symptom relief, managing BPH timely can mean a great difference in preserving daily function, confidence, and independence.
Dr Lim encouraged riders to see their doctors not only when symptoms become severe, but as part of routine health check-ins as one ages.
Treating BPH
Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatment options can range from simple lifestyle modification to medication, and ultimately surgical options.
Of particular interest was water vapour therapy – a day procedure that requires no cuts and helps preserve ejaculatory function, offering an option for those seeking alternatives to medication or surgery.
Take Aways
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate. The prostate grows as the man grows, hence this cannot be avoided.
- BPH can result in uncomfortable urinary symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, nocturnal urination and inability to void completely. This can reduce one’s quality of life.
- Lifestyle modification may be helpful for patients with mild symptoms.
- Medications like alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are available under prescription to manage BPH symptoms
- Surgery like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) removes excess tissue to relieve BPH symptoms. This can be invasive and lead to side effects.
- Minimally invasive treatments are an option. For example, water vapour therapy uses heat energy to shrink excess prostate tissue. This reduces BPH symptoms with lesser side effects
Changing the Way Men Engage With Health
Meaningful health conversations do not always have to happen in clinics or consultation rooms. By bringing the topic of prostate health into a setting that felt familiar – among bikes, food, and friends – the message landed differently.
“I’m really heartened to see the turnout and how well received the Ride the Flow event was,” said Marie, Editor of Medical Channel Asia.
“Many men tend to downplay their symptoms or push through discomfort. It’s common for them to think it is just part of getting older or something to ‘tough out’. I’m glad we were able to break that mindset and open up a conversation about men’s health issues like benign prostatic hyperplasia.”
That message clearly struck a chord with participants.
“I always hear about prostate issues, but I never really understood it,” said Barry, one of the riders. “This kind of session really helped me understand.”
Another attendee, Claudia, added, “Even though I’m a female, I think this is a very educational topic. It’s not something that’s widely known to the public, so I think it’s very good that we are aware. Because we have loved ones: fathers and partners, loved ones, (we need to know how to) keep a look out for them as well.”
Wondering if your symptoms could point to BPH?
We talk about engine maintenance all the time. But when was the last time you checked your own plumbing?
Take the quick 8-question International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) quiz to assess the severity of your lower urinary tract symptoms. Whether your score falls in the mild, moderate, or severe range, you can have taken the first step toward understanding your prostate health.
👉 Take the quiz at MyProstateHealth.sg
