How Successful is Prostate Artery Embolization?

If you're considering PAE to treat an enlarged prostate, you may wonder, "How successful is Prostate Artery Embolization?" And why should you choose this treatment option over others?

Well, at our Georgia Prostate Institute, we offer prostate artery embolization (PAE) to men who are suffering from the Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) associated with an enlarged prostate. It is a safe and effective pathway to relief, and we'll explain how and why it works in today's post!

What causes an enlarged prostate?

Your prostate gland sits at the neck of your bladder, surrounding the urethra. Its role in your reproductive system is to produce seminal fluid. Yet, as you age, your prostate tends to grow larger, a condition known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or an enlarged prostate.

As the gland gets larger, it presses on your urethra and bladder, resulting in disruptive symptoms such as:

Inability to urinate or empty the bladder fully

Weak or slow flow of urine, along with dribbling at the end of urinary flow

Incontinence

Sudden need to urinate, without any warning

Two or more nightly urination needs that lead to waking

Pain or straining with urination

Delayed onset of urination

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney and bladder damage, and/or bladder stones.

What is PAE (prostate artery embolization)?

Recently approved by the FDA to treat BPH, prostate artery embolization is an outpatient procedure that relieves the symptoms of an enlarged prostate by blocking blood flow to the prostatic arteries. Accomplished by using an x-ray-guided catheter to deposit microspheres to those arteries, the resulting reduction in blood flow causes shrinking of the prostate, and soon relieves unwanted symptoms.

What is the success rate of prostate artery embolization?

Here's some good news: within one year of receiving PAE, over 90% of men experience BPH relief. Plus, unlike other BPH treatment options, prostate artery embolization does not carry the risk of sexual side effects. Even better? PAE relief appears to be long lasting. While the procedure is new enough that we don't have much long-term data, recent studies revealed that 82% of men experienced ongoing relief three years after their procedure.

Who is a PAE candidate?

While PAE isn't for everyone, you may be a candidate if you have not experienced BPH relief from medications or lifestyle changes; if you're not a candidate for surgery, or if your prostate is too large for common surgical procedures. Plus, PAE can be a great treatment for men who have unsuccessfully tried to treat BPH with previous surgeries.

Now, not every patient will be eligible for this procedure, but we can determine your best treatment plan after a thorough exam and medical history. Ready to discover for yourself, how successful is prostate artery embolization? Learn more by clicking here to request an appointment.