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We wished to better characterize these men and understand their motivation and experience.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted an anonymous survey among 477 users of non-prescription treatments for LUTS.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participating men had a mean age (64.3\u2009\u00b1\u20097.8 years) and IPSS (17.7\u2009\u00b1\u20097.9 points) comparable to users of prescription medicines in non-interventional studies, indicating that they were not primarily motivated by mild symptom intensity. They had realistic expectations on efficacy and tolerability. While reasons for preference for a non-prescription treatment varied, 40.0% stated a wish to avoid \u2018chemical\u2019 and, vice-versa, to use \u2018natural\u2019 treatments. The choice of a specific treatment was largely driven by prior experience, but recommendations from a physician or the pharmacy as well as advertisements also played a role. About two thirds of participants reported to be repeat users and purchasing the same product each time. However, less than a quarter of participants appear to use the non-prescription treatment continuously.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Men self-managing their LUTS\/BPH are similar to those using prescription drugs based on age and symptom severity. Their main reasons to prefer non-prescription medicines relate to the wish to avoid \u2018chemical\u2019 and the preference for \u2018natural\u2019 treatments. Most of them are repeat users of the same product but use it only intermittently.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00345-025-05560-1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T04:04:20Z","timestamp":1746677060000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Characteristics of men using non-prescription medicines to treat their lower urinary tract symptoms"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"43","author":[{"given":"Martin C.","family":"Michel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kurt","family":"Miller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tim","family":"Schneider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Ude","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Matthias","family":"Oelke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"5560_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eururo.2013.03.004","volume":"64","author":"M Oelke","year":"2013","unstructured":"Oelke M, Bachmann A, Descazeaud A, Emberton M, Gravas S, Michel MC et al (2013) EAU guidelines on the treatment and follow-up of non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including benign prostatic obstruction. 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There was no treatment as part of the survey, i.e., a non-interventional (observational) study. Based on the applicable laws and regulations in Germany, the applicable ethical committee (Ethical Committee of the chamber of physicians of Rhineland-Palatinate) informed us that an ethical vote was neither required nor proposed for this anonymous survey.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethical approval"}},{"value":"MCM has received consultancy or speaker honoraria in urology from Apogepha, Astellas, Dr. Willmar Schwabe, GSK, MIP Pharma, Piere Fabre, and Sanofi-Aventis. KM and TS report no conflict of interest. CU has received honoraria from Bionorica and Dr. Willmar Schwabe. MO has received consultancy or speaker honoraria in urology from Apogepha, Astellas, Dr. Willmar Schwabe, GlaxoSmithKline, Pierre Fabre, SAJA Pharma and Sun Pharma.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"283"}}