You may have an enlarged prostate. But you're not alone.
There’s a simple, proven treatment that doesn’t involve surgery. It’s called Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE).
It’s a non-invasive, outpatient procedure that’s helped thousands of men just like you experience relief by shrinking the prostate.
A tiny catheter is inserted into an artery.
Then, using advanced imaging, one of our board-certified vascular specialists carefully guides it to the prostate and reduces blood flow to the enlarged tissue. Over time, the prostate shrinks and pressure is relieved. It’s that simple.
Interventional radiologists use advanced imaging (think X-rays or MRIs) to see inside the body and treat medical conditions using tiny catheters instead of traditional surgery.
For PAE, that means treating an enlarged prostate without cutting, removing, or burning prostate tissue.
You don’t have to figure that out on your own. PAE may be an option if an enlarged prostate has you dealing with frequent bathroom trips, weak flow, sleepless nights, or medications that aren’t cutting it.
We’ll review your symptoms and medical history to help you decide if PAE makes sense for you.
The first step is simply a conversation. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, review your medical history, answer your questions, and determine whether PAE could be a good fit. And if it isn’t? We’ll tell you that, too.
PAE is covered by many insurance plans, but coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary.
Our team can help you understand your benefits and any authorization requirements before you move forward.
PAE reduces blood flow to the enlarged prostate, allowing it to shrink over time. Many patients begin noticing improvement within the first few weeks, with symptoms continuing to improve over the following months. Clinical studies have shown durable symptom improvement for up to six years after PAE.
Usually pretty uneventful. Which is exactly how we like it.
PAE is an outpatient procedure, so most patients go home the same day. Some temporary discomfort, fatigue, or urinary symptoms are normal, but recovery is typically much shorter than with more invasive procedures.
PAE is minimally invasive, but it’s still a medical procedure. Temporary side effects can include pelvic discomfort, urinary urgency or frequency, fatigue, or soreness where the catheter was inserted. Your physician will walk you through the potential risks before treatment.
The biggest difference is how we get the job done.
Procedures like TURP treat BPH by going through the urethra and removing prostate tissue. PAE takes a different route: a tiny catheter is guided through your blood vessels to reduce blood flow to the prostate, allowing it to shrink over time.
That means no surgical incision, no prostate tissue removed, and typically, a quicker recovery.
One advantage of PAE is its low risk of sexual side effects compared with many surgical treatments for BPH. Because PAE doesn’t remove prostate tissue or go through the urethra, erectile and ejaculatory function are generally preserved.
Every patient is different, so your physician will talk through your individual risks before treatment, but we believe a better flow shouldn’t have to come at the expense of everything else.
We’re the interventional radiology team of Radiology Associates of North Texas, the nation’s largest physician-owned radiology practice and a trusted North Texas healthcare provider since 1937.
But to answer what you’re really asking: When it comes to PAE, we’re not new to this. As a practice, our physicians have performed hundreds of PAE procedures. So, when we say you’re in good hands, we mean it.
Call 817-321-0439 to find out if a PAE is right for you.
