Men over 50 develop
an enlarged prostate
BPH is benign and does not
become cancer
Reduction in urinary symptom scores after PAE
1–3 hour procedure with
no surgical incision.
Glandular and muscular cells multiply faster than normal with age, increasing the gland's size.
Chronic prostatitis can disrupt normal function and encourage tissue growth.
Changes in the nerve signals controlling the prostate may influence how it grows and functions.
A family history of an enlarged prostate makes a man more likely to develop it himself.
Obesity, inactivity, and poor diet don't cause BPH directly, but they can speed its progression.
Most often diagnosed in men over 50, with risk rising each decade.
A father or brother with BPH raises your own risk — the condition runs in families.
Research suggests African American men may face higher risk and more severe symptoms.
Diabetes and heart disease have both been linked to a greater risk of BPH.
Some blood-pressure and erectile-dysfunction medications can worsen urinary symptoms.
Moderate-to-severe urinary symptoms: frequency, weak stream, or waking through the night.
Symptoms that persist despite BPH medication, or side effects you'd rather not live with.
A preference to keep sexual and urinary function intact and skip a hospital operation.
PAE works well even for large glands that are difficult to treat with some surgical options.
Men on blood thinners or conditions that make surgery riskier are often good candidates.
Take our quick 2-minute quiz to find out if you're a candidate for prostate artery embolization.
PAE preserves sexual function; it shrinks the prostate by blocking its arteries rather than removing the gland, PAE carries a far lower risk of erectile dysfunction than prostatectomy.
Prostate artery embolization has a lower risk of urinary incontinence than prostatectomy. No tissue is removed, so the muscles that control urination stay intact.
PAE is minimally invasive. A catheter is guided through a single pinhole at the wrist or groin to block blood flow to the prostate — no surgical incision, shorter recovery, and no hospital stay.
PAE causes minimal blood loss. Its targeted, catheter-based approach avoids the bleeding, infection, and anesthesia risks of open prostate surgery.
PAE is a safe option for high-risk patients. Men with other health conditions or advanced age who can't have surgery can still get lasting symptom relief.
| Treatment | Invasiveness | Recovery Time | Anesthesia | Sexual side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prostate artery embolization (PAE) WHAT WE DO | Minimally invasive (pinhole) | A few days | Light sedation | Very low risk |
| UroLift (implants) | Minimally invasive | A few days | Local/light | Low (size limited) |
| TURP (surgical resection) | Surgical | 2-4 weeks | General/spinal | Common (retrograde) |
| Open / laser prostatectomy | Surgical | 2–6 weeks | General | Higher risk |
| Medication | Non-invasive | Ongoing use | None | Possible (manages only) |
Board-certified interventional radiologists deliver expert care using the latest minimally invasive techniques.
State-of-the-art imaging maps the prostate arteries and guides every step for safer, more effective results.
Clinics throughout Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth make advanced prostate care easy to access close to home.
1331 West Grand Parkway
N, Suite 210
Katy, TX 77493
3920 W Wheatland Rd
Suite 108
Dallas, TX 75237
5425 W. Spring Creek Parkway
Suite 100
Plano, TX 75024
6620 Bryant Irvin Road
Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76132
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, a larger gland presses on it and disrupts the flow of urine. It's extremely common — about half of men over 50 — and it is not cancer and does not become cancer.
The most common signs are urinary: going more often (day and night), a sudden urge that's hard to control, a weak or stop-and-start stream, trouble starting, dribbling at the end, and waking through the night to urinate (nocturia). Because these can overlap with infections, bladder stones, or other conditions, it's worth getting evaluated.
PAE is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that shrinks an enlarged prostate by blocking the small arteries that supply it. With less blood flow, the prostate softens and shrinks over the following weeks — relieving urinary symptoms without cutting, removing tissue, or a hospital stay.
When PAE is medically necessary — meaning you have bothersome symptoms from an enlarged prostate — it's covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans. Our team verifies your benefits in advance so there are no surprises.
Scheduling
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