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Enlarged prostate (BPH)

Enlarged prostate: understand every option, including PAE.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) means the prostate has grown larger. It is common as men get older and it is not cancer, but it can make urinating slow, frequent, or hard. This guide explains the condition and every way to treat it, so you can talk with your doctor about all of them.

Does BPH go away?Compare treatments

Written and reviewed by Varun Danda, MD, interventional radiology resident physician. Every page cites its sources.

Understand an enlarged prostate

Start here if you were just told you have BPH.

Side-view drawings of a typical prostate, with the urethra passing through freely, and an enlarged prostate that squeezes the urethra and pushes up into the bladder.
A typical prostate (left) and an enlarged one (right), seen from the side. A simplified drawing, not to scale.

Treatment options

Medicine, image-guided procedures, and surgery, side by side.

Spotlight: prostate artery embolization (PAE)

PAE is done by an interventional radiologist. A small catheter goes through an artery in the wrist or groin to the prostate, and tiny particles slow its blood supply. The prostate shrinks, which can ease urinary symptoms. Read how PAE works.

Cost and preparing for your visit

Know what to ask, and what your plan may cover.

Find a specialist near you

Generate privacy-safe local search links for Urologists and Interventional Radiologists near you to bring your consult packet to.

Common questions.

What is BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) means the prostate has grown larger. It is common as men get older. It is not cancer, but it can press on the tube that carries urine and make urinating harder.

Does an enlarged prostate always need treatment?

No. Mild symptoms are often watched over time. Treatment is usually for symptoms that bother you or for problems such as not being able to urinate.

What is prostate artery embolization (PAE)?

PAE is a procedure done by an interventional radiologist. A small catheter is passed through an artery in the wrist or groin to the prostate, and tiny particles slow its blood supply. The prostate then shrinks, which can ease urinary symptoms.

How do I find out if PAE is an option for me?

Ask your urologist about all of your options, or ask for a referral to an interventional radiologist for a PAE consult. Bring your PSA results and any prostate imaging reports.

What if my symptoms feel urgent?

Go to the nearest emergency department if you cannot urinate at all, or if you have fever and chills with painful urination.

Talk with your doctor. This guide is education only. It does not diagnose or recommend a treatment for you. ProcedurePath does not collect your email, health details, or answers. Read the full medical disclaimer.