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Enlarged Prostate

Vascular & Interventional Associates Our Services Enlarged Prostate
Vascular & Interventional Associates - - Board Certified Vein and Vascular Specialist

 

  

Your risk of an enlarged prostate increases as you get older. While it only affects about 50% of men in their 50s, the condition is diagnosed in 80% of men in their 80s. If you have problems urinating, call the Board Certified Vein and Vascular Specialists serving the areas of Crestview Hills, KY, Northern Kentucky, and Cincinnati, OH. Their team of board-certified physicians offers advanced treatment options to alleviate your symptoms. To schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature.

Enlarged Prostate Q & A

What causes an enlarged prostate?

An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), occurs as your prostate gland continues to grow throughout adulthood. Though an enlarged prostate is a common problem in older men, the exact cause is unknown. Many medical professionals believe that age-related hormonal changes cause ongoing prostate growth.

What symptoms develop due to an enlarged prostate?

Your prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder and through your penis during urination. As the prostate enlarges, it pushes against the urethra, restricting the flow of urine.

As a result, an enlarged prostate may lead to symptoms such as:

  • Urinary frequency
  • Urinary urgency
  • Urinating frequently during the night
  • Difficulty starting to urinate
  • Weak urine stream that stops while urinating
  • Incomplete bladder emptying
  • Need to strain or push to start urinating
  • Dribbling small amounts of urine

Less than half of all men develop urinary tract symptoms. The rest don’t have symptoms until their prostate gets so large it blocks urination.

How is an enlarged prostate diagnosed?

After reviewing your medical history and talking about your symptoms, your provider at Vascular and Interventional Associates may perform a digital rectal exam, a urine analysis, and blood tests.

Depending on the results, you may need additional diagnostic tests to measure your urine flow and your ability to empty your bladder. Your provider may also perform ultrasound imaging to view your prostate.

How is an enlarged prostate treated?

In the early stages when your symptoms are mild, your Vascular and Interventional Associates provider may prescribe medication to relax your muscles or help shrink the prostate.

If your symptoms are moderate to severe, or medications fail to help, they may perform a minimally invasive targeted procedure called prostate artery embolization (PAE) to shrink your prostate. 

The team at Vascular and Interventional Associates performs your PAE using guided imagery under minimal sedation. During the procedure, your provider inserts a tiny catheter into the vessels that supply blood to your prostate.

Your provider then injects tiny particles (microspheres) into the blood vessels to stop the flow of blood. Lack of a blood supply causes your prostate to shrink, which relieves pressure on your urethra and alleviates your symptoms. 

PAE is a safe and proven alternative to the traditional surgical procedures for an enlarged prostate, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The team at Vascular and Interventional Associates only performs PAE because it’s proven to have fewer complications, such as incontinence and impotence, compared to the other types of procedures.

If you have a hard time urinating or you get up during the night to go to the bathroom, call Vascular and Interventional Associates or book an appointment online.

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