BPH Treatment Without Major Surgery: Understanding Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
If frequent trips to the bathroom, difficulty urinating, or waking up several times during the night have become part of your daily routine, an enlarged prostate may be the reason.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is an extremely common condition in men, particularly as they get older. While BPH is not cancer, its symptoms can significantly interfere with sleep, work, travel, exercise, and overall quality of life.
The good news is that surgery isn’t the only option.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive treatment for BPH that can reduce urinary symptoms by shrinking the enlarged prostateâwithout traditional prostate surgery.
At Elite Vascular Care, our goal is simple: help you understand your options and find the treatment that can get you back to living your life.
What Is BPH?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.
The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. As the prostate enlarges, it can place pressure on the urethra and interfere with the normal flow of urine.
For some men, symptoms are relatively mild. For others, BPH can become a frustrating part of everyday life.
Common Symptoms of BPH
Symptoms may include:
- Frequent urination
- Urgent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak or interrupted urine stream
- Straining to urinate
- Feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied
- Dribbling after urination
- Waking multiple times during the night to urinate
- Difficulty postponing urination
Many men gradually adjust their lives around these symptoms. They learn where every bathroom is, avoid long car rides, limit fluids before leaving home, or accept interrupted sleep as part of getting older.
But bothersome urinary symptoms don’t necessarily have to become your new normal.
When Medication Isn't Enough
For many patients, medications are an appropriate first step in treating BPH. These medications may help relax muscles around the prostate or reduce prostate size.
However, medication doesn’t work well enough for everyone.
Some men continue experiencing significant symptoms despite treatment, while others may experience medication side effects or simply want to explore other options.
Traditionally, the next step could involve a surgical procedure.
Today, certain patients may have another option: Prostate Artery Embolization.
What Is Prostate Artery Embolization?
Prostate Artery Embolization, commonly called PAE, is a minimally invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist.
Rather than surgically removing prostate tissue, PAE treats the enlarged prostate by reducing its blood supply.
During the procedure, the physician uses advanced imaging technology to guide a small catheter through the blood vessels supplying the prostate. Tiny particles are then carefully delivered into specific prostate arteries.
These particles reduce blood flow to the enlarged prostate tissue.
Over time, the prostate begins to shrink, relieving pressure on the urethra and potentially improving urinary symptoms.
What Happens During a PAE Procedure?
PAE is performed through a small access point in an artery, commonly through the wrist or groin depending on the patient’s anatomy and treatment plan.
Using X-ray guidance, the interventional radiologist carefully navigates a thin catheter through the body’s arteries until reaching the blood vessels supplying the prostate.
Microscopic particles are delivered through the catheter to reduce blood flow to targeted areas of the prostate.
There are no large surgical incisions, and the prostate does not have to be surgically removed.
Once the treatment is completed, the catheter is removed and the small access site is treated.
What Are the Potential Benefits of PAE?
For appropriately selected patients, PAE offers several potential advantages compared with more invasive treatment options.
These may include:
- Minimally invasive treatment
- No large surgical incision
- Typically performed without general anesthesia
- Reduced urinary symptoms
- Improved urinary flow
- Reduced prostate volume over time
- Shorter recovery compared with many surgical procedures
- Lower risk of certain sexual side effects compared with some traditional prostate surgeries
- Ability to treat some patients with very large prostates
- Outpatient treatment in many cases
Every patient is different, and results cannot be guaranteed. A consultation and review of your medical history and imaging are necessary to determine whether PAE is appropriate for you.
What Is Recovery Like After PAE?
One of the advantages of minimally invasive treatment is that recovery is generally much different from traditional surgery.
PAE is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing many patients to return home the same day.
Some patients may experience temporary symptoms following treatment, including pelvic discomfort, urinary frequency, burning with urination, fatigue, or other urinary symptoms as the prostate responds to treatment.
Your physician will provide specific post-procedure instructions based on your individual treatment.
Many patients can return to normal activities relatively quickly, although strenuous activity may need to be temporarily limited.
Improvement in BPH symptoms generally occurs gradually as the prostate begins to shrink.
How Quickly Does PAE Work?
PAE isn’t designed to make the prostate shrink overnight.
Instead, the prostate gradually decreases in size after its blood supply has been reduced. Patients may begin noticing improvement in urinary symptoms over the following weeks, with additional improvement occurring over the next several months.
Because every patient’s prostate anatomy, size, and symptoms are different, individual results and timelines will vary.
Who May Be a Candidate for PAE?
PAE may be considered for men experiencing moderate to severe urinary symptoms related to an enlarged prostate, particularly when symptoms are interfering with quality of life.
Potential candidates may include men who:
- Have bothersome urinary symptoms caused by BPH
- Have not received adequate relief from medication
- Experience unwanted medication side effects
- Have a significantly enlarged prostate
- Want to explore a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgery
Not every man with urinary symptoms has BPH, and not every patient with BPH is an appropriate candidate for PAE.
That’s why a proper evaluation is important.
PAE vs. Traditional Prostate Surgery
The primary difference is how the enlarged prostate is treated.
Traditional surgical procedures generally remove, cut, vaporize, or otherwise treat prostate tissue through the urinary tract or through surgery.
PAE takes a different approach.
Instead of directly removing prostate tissue, PAE targets the arteries feeding the enlarged prostate. Reducing that blood supply allows the prostate to gradually shrink.
Both surgical and minimally invasive treatments have appropriate roles in BPH care. The best treatment depends on several factors, including prostate size, anatomy, severity of symptoms, overall health, medications, personal priorities, and previous treatments.
Patients should discuss all appropriate treatment options with their healthcare providers.
You Don't Have to Plan Your Life Around the Bathroom
BPH symptoms can slowly change the way you live.
Maybe you’re getting up three or four times every night.
Maybe you’re looking for the nearest restroom whenever you leave home.
Maybe you’re avoiding long drives, sporting events, golf, fishing, travel, or other activities because you’re worried about needing a bathroom.
Those changes can become so gradual that they start to feel normal.
They don’t have to be.
If an enlarged prostate is interfering with your quality of life, it may be time to learn whether Prostate Artery Embolization is an option for you.
BPH Treatment at Elite Vascular Care
At Elite Vascular Care, we specialize in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures designed to treat medical conditions while helping patients return to the activities they enjoy.
Our team understands that discussing urinary problems can sometimes feel uncomfortable. We believe patients deserve clear information, compassionate care, and the opportunity to understand all of their treatment options.
If BPH is controlling your schedule, interrupting your sleep, or keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, there may be another option.
Schedule a BPH/PAE Consultation
If you’ve been diagnosed with BPH or are experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate, contact Elite Vascular Care to learn more about Prostate Artery Embolization and whether you may be a candidate.