Prostate Artery Embolization

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a noncancerous enlarged prostate. As the prostate grows, it can press on the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. Common symptoms include frequent urination in men, waking up several times at night to urinate, a weak urine stream, trouble getting started, sudden urgency, dribbling, and feeling like the bladder is not completely empty. These symptoms can have other causes, so it is important to be properly evaluated.

For men looking for BPH treatment in Atlanta, understanding what is causing these urinary symptoms is the first step toward finding the right treatment.

Prostate Artery Embolization, or PAE, is a minimally invasive treatment for an enlarged prostate caused by BPH. An interventional radiologist makes a very small opening in the wrist or groin and guides a thin tube called a catheter through the blood vessels to the arteries that supply the prostate.

Tiny particles are then used to reduce blood flow to the enlarged prostate. With less blood flow, the prostate begins to shrink, which can reduce pressure on the urethra and help improve urinary symptoms. No prostate tissue is surgically removed.

For men researching PAE in Atlanta or enlarged prostate treatment in Atlanta, PAE may provide a nonsurgical option worth discussing with a physician.

PAE may be an option for men who have been diagnosed with BPH and have urinary symptoms that are interfering with sleep, work, travel, or everyday life.

A man may be considered for PAE if medication has not provided enough relief, medication is causing unwanted side effects, he wants to avoid or delay traditional prostate surgery, or he has other health conditions that make surgery more difficult. Current professional guidance supports PAE as an option for appropriately selected men with BPH-related urinary symptoms.

Not everyone with urinary problems has BPH, and not everyone with BPH is a candidate for PAE. An evaluation is needed to determine the cause of the symptoms and whether PAE treatment in Atlanta may be appropriate.

PAE is typically performed as an outpatient or same-day procedure, and recovery is generally much shorter than with traditional prostate surgery. Many patients are able to return to normal activities within several days, although every patient’s recovery is different.

Some men may begin noticing improvement in urinary symptoms within days, while improvement can continue as the prostate shrinks.

For men considering BPH treatment in Atlanta, the shorter recovery period is one reason PAE may be worth discussing as an enlarged prostate treatment option.