The Latest on Enlarged Prostate Treatments

Are There New Treatments On The Rise For An Enlarged Prostate?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, is a condition that becomes more likely the older a man gets. If you find yourself traveling to the bathroom more often or are struggling to urinate, it might be time to look into enlarged prostate treatment.

Enlarged prostates are not a new concern, with documented cases existing for centuries. With a condition as common and long-withstanding as this, it’s only natural for there to be a variety of treatment options. Let’s take a look at past treatments and how new options offered at MTV IR address their complications and side effects while still producing favorable results.

Past Enlarged Prostate Treatment Options

Management of BPH has traditionally been divided into two categories: medical and surgical. Choosing the best treatment option requires discussing with your doctor various factors, such as:

• your age
• how much your symptoms interfere with your life
• the size of your prostate
• your overall health
• other medical conditions

With the above information, a doctor could then determine which treatment option was the best choice.

Medical treatments include:

• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
• alpha-blockers

Surgical options include:

• transurethral surgery
• transurethral incision of the prostate
• laser surgery
• open simple prostatectomy

There are challenges with both these options, though. Medications may take months to see results or require adhering to a strict schedule to continue reaping their benefits. There is also concern regarding their potential to possibly increase prostate cancer risk. In comparison, surgeries can have a long and painful recovery and are not always a good option for patients depending on their health.

Latest Treatment Advances for Enlarged Prostates

The field of enlarged prostate treatment is constantly expanding, primarily driven by patients wanting a long-lasting solution utilizing minimally invasive techniques.

One advancement has been to inject drugs directly into the prostate, with one long-term randomized control trial finding significant benefits with the injection of Botox. However, further evidence is needed before this option can be deemed clinically safe and effective.

Yet another advancement is the prostatic urethral lift, which involves a mechanical implant placed in the prostate that pulls the intruding prostate lobes away, improving men’s flow. What’s promising about this procedure is that, unlike other enlarged prostate surgical treatments, there is minimal ejaculation disruption, which helps to maintain patient fertility and sexual satisfaction.

Yet another minimally invasive treatment option is prostate artery embolization (PAE), in which a catheter is inserted into the artery in your wrist or groin, then guided to the vessels supplying blood to the prostate. From there, tiny particles are injected through the catheter to reduce the blood vessel’s blood supply.

A primary benefit of PAE is that results are seen within just days of the procedure. Even more, its clinical efficacy has shown to be comparable to the current surgical gold standard, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Compared to TURP, though, PAE offers fewer complications and side effects and no need for general anesthesia or hospitalization.

If you are interested in taking action against the unpleasant symptoms of your enlarged prostate using one of the latest treatment advances, reach out to MTV IR to learn more about how PAE can help you.