

“This process is then repeated on the other side, usually through the same original puncture,” Dr. Once the catheter is positioned in the artery supplying blood to the prostate, tiny particles called microspheres are injected that plug up the artery, blocking blood flow. A catheter is inserted through the artery and directed toward the prostate.

PAE is performed through a small puncture in the groin or the arm. A New Treatment Option for BPHĪ newer, nonsurgical treatment for BPH, called prostatic artery embolization (PAE), is available at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, says Ari Isaacson, MD, a vascular interventional radiologist who performs the procedure. TURP also carries a risk of causing new problems such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation (the ejaculation of semen into the bladder instead of out through the penis). But in some cases, a prostate is too large to be removed through a TURP procedure. In comparison, TURP surgery is better at improving symptoms more quickly. However, the medications can have unpleasant side effects, including chronic stuffy nose, lightheadedness and loss of libido. Medications can help relieve symptoms and reduce the size of the prostate.

There are pros and cons to both treatment approaches. In TURP, a surgical instrument is inserted into the tip of the penis and then used to trim and remove excess prostate tissue. Until recently, treatments for BPH were limited to medications such as alpha blockers (Flomax or Hytrin) and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (Avodart or Proscar) or surgical procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). In BPH, the prostate becomes enlarged to the point that men have problems such as difficulty starting urination, a weak flow, an urge to urinate again soon after urination or the need for frequent urination. That number increases to 80 to 90 percent in men older than 70. If you’re a man with a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), this scene is all too familiar.Ībout half of men ages 50 and older have problems with urination because of BPH. Then, before you can fall back asleep, you have to go again. To learn more about BPH, its causes, symptoms and treatments, read Living Better with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, an online guide from Harvard Medical School.You wake up in the middle of the night with an urgent need to pee. Common over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines and decongestants, may slow your stream even more and potentially block your ability to empty your bladder.This will reduce the need for subsequent trips to the toilet. When you go to the bathroom, take the time to empty your bladder completely.Go to the bathroom on a timed schedule, even if you don't feel a need to go.Limit fluid intake before going out in public or starting a trip.Avoid drinking fluids for one to two hours before bed.Some simple changes in behavior that can help to ease urinary symptoms whether you choose treatment or not. A physical exam and some blood tests can help identify the path to relief. If you experience these symptoms, talk with your doctor. If the gland becomes enlarged enough to obstruct the bladder, it can cause bothersome symptoms like a weak urine stream, difficulty with completely emptying the bladder, and frequent trips to the bathroom. Over a lifetime, the cumulative growth can be considerable. For reasons that remain unclear, the walnut-shaped gland under the bladder continues to grow gradually in most adult men. If you are a man over age 50, you probably know someone living with the effects of an enlarged prostate gland.
