Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Enlarged Prostate

As men age, their prostate gland can grow larger, putting pressure on the bladder and urethra, the vessel that carries urine from the bladder and outside of the body. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. It is one of the most common health problems men can experience, affecting half of all men between 51 and 60 years of age, and 90% of men older than 80.
In some cases, it can lead to painful urination, reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction and urinary continence or retention (the inability to urinate). Most men with BPH are unhappy with the condition and do not wish to live the rest of their lives with its symptoms
Diagram comparing a normal prostate with an enlarged prostate below the bladder
01

Common Symptoms

A frequent or urgent need to urinate (especially at night)
A weak urine stream
Difficulty beginning urination or dribbling at the end
Inability to completely empty the bladder
BPH is also linked to erectile dysfunction and reduced sex drive. Left untreated, it can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder damage, bladder stones, kidney damage (or chronic renal failure) and urinary retention (the inability to urinate).

What happens as the prostate gets bigger?

The prostate is a gland that is normally the size of a walnut. With BPH, it can grow as large as a tennis ball. The enlarging prostate can put pressure on the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. This can restrict the flow of urine or, in extreme cases, cut it off completely.
Doctor talking with a male patient during a consultation

Treatment Options

‍

Men with mild BPH symptoms may be treated with lifestyle changes, medication or supplements. Your doctor may also ask you to avoid taking certain medications like decongestants or certain antihistamines that can affect your prostate.
Severe BPH symptoms may be treated with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia. Unfortunately, side effects are common with TURP procedures and include infection, bleeding and a loss of erections. 65 out of 100 men who have the surgery will experience retrograde ejaculation, a condition where semen goes into the bladder and not out of the penis. Another complication of TURP is painful or difficult urination, which is ironically one of the problems the surgery is meant to fix.
UroLift® is a less invasive procedure that some urologists now offer as an alternative to TURP. It uses permanent implants to lift the enlarged prostate away from the urethra. This has the effect of reducing pressure on the urethra and improving urine flow. While UroLift is shown to alleviate the symptoms of BPH, it does not address the underlying condition of the enlarged prostate. As a result, symptoms can return. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 12% of UroLift patients will require another procedure within two years.
A new and minimally invasive procedure cleared by the FDA in 2018, known as prostate artery embolization (PAE), is an excellent treatment option for men with severe BPH symptoms. This convenient outpatient procedure performed by our doctors may alleviate BPH symptoms for most men without the need for surgery. Unlike UroLift, it addresses the root cause of the problem (the growing prostate). Also, unlike UroLift, it is the only minimally invasive procedure shown to improve sexual performance.
View Treatment

Am I a candidate for PAE?

Answer two quick questions to see if prostate artery embolization could be an option for you.

Are you exploring an alternative treatment to surgery or another recommended procedure for your benign prostatic hyperplasia?

During the past month, have you experienced any of the following? (Check all that apply.)

Please answer the question above to see your result.

You may be a candidate for prostate artery embolization.

Please fill out the form on this page so we can schedule your consultation.

Schedule my consultation

It doesn't appear as if you would benefit from PAE.

Based on your response, prostate artery embolization may not be the right fit. If you'd still like us to follow up with you, please fill out the form on this page.

Contact our team

Let's find the right next step together.

Your answers don't point clearly one way or the other. The best way to know your options is a conversation with our team — please fill out the form on this page.

Contact our team
← Retake the quiz

International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS)

Answer each question about your urinary symptoms over the past month. Your total score is calculated instantly.

0 of 7 answered

1. Incomplete Emptying: How often have you had the sensation of not emptying your bladder?

…

2. Frequency: How often have you had to urinate less than every two hours?

…

3. Intermittency: How often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?

…

4. Urgency: How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?

…

5. Weak Stream: How often have you had a weak urinary stream?

…

6. Straining: How often have you had to strain to start urination?

…

7. Nocturia: How many times did you typically get up at night to urinate?

…

Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your I-PSS score

—

—

This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index

Rate each activity by the degree of difficulty you have experienced in the last 48 hours due to your knee.

0 of 24 answered

Pain

1. Walking

…

2. Stair climbing

…

3. Nocturnal

…

4. Rest

…

5. Weight bearing

…

Stiffness

1. Morning stiffness

…

2. Stiffness occurring later in the day

…

Physical Function

1. Descending stairs

…

2. Ascending stairs

…

3. Rise from sitting

…

4. Standing

…

5. Bending to floor

…

6. Walking on flat surface

…

7. Getting in/out of car

…

8. Going shopping

…

9. Putting on socks

…

10. Lying in bed

…

11. Taking off socks

…

12. Rising from bed

…

13. Getting in/out of bath

…

14. Sitting

…

15. Getting on/off toilet

…

16. Heavy domestic duties

…

17. Light domestic duties

…

Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your WOMAC score

—

—

—

—

—

This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

Foot & Ankle Disability Index (FADI)

Rate each item by your current level of difficulty. Higher scores indicate better foot and ankle function.

0 of 26 answered

Activity

1. Standing

…

2. Walking on even ground

…

3. Walking on even ground without shoes

…

4. Walking up hills

…

5. Walking down hills

…

6. Going up stairs

…

7. Going down stairs

…

8. Walking on uneven ground

…

9. Stepping up and down curbs

…

10. Squatting

…

11. Sleeping

…

12. Coming up to your toes

…

13. Walking initially

…

14. Walking 5 minutes or less

…

15. Walking approximately 10 minutes

…

16. Walking 15 minutes or greater

…

17. Home responsibilities

…

18. Activities of daily living

…

19. Personal care

…

20. Light to moderate work (standing, walking)

…

21. Heavy work (push/pulling, climbing, carrying)

…

22. Recreational activities

…

Pain

23. General level of pain

…

24. Pain at rest

…

25. Pain during your normal activity

…

26. Pain first thing in the morning

…

Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your FADI score

—

—

This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

Book a Consultation

Submit
Submit
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.