Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Enlarged Prostate

It is common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages. The condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), causes these common symptoms:

• Hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
• Urgency and leaking or dribbling
• More frequent urination, especially at night

Learn more about BPH on our dedicated page here.

There are many ways to treat BPH. While we do try to start with lifestyle changes and medications, if your treatment isn’t working, ask your urologist for other options.

Medications: The FDA has approved six drugs to relieve common symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. These medications don’t work for all men with BPH. If you’re among them, ask your urologist about minimally invasive treatments.

Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE): Prostate artery embolization, or PAE, is a non-surgical procedure that can improve lower urinary tract symptoms by blocking the blood flow to the prostate, thereby reducing the size of the prostate. PAE is a revolutionary treatment for BPH that’s coming soon to MIU.

Prostatic Urethral Lift (UroLift®): This incision-free procedure involves retracting, not removing, the tissue that blocks the urethra. The surgeon inserts small implants into each side of the prostate, pulling the walls of the prostate away from the urethra and opening the channel.

Rezum: A treatment that uses the natural energy stored in water vapor, or steam, to remove excess prostate tissue that is compressing the urethra. A temporary catheter is required postoperatively.

Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP):  A precise pair of incisions in the bladder neck where the prostate merges with the bladder. This will release the restriction of the bladder-outlet and dramatically improve symptoms of BPH.

GreenLight™ Laser Therapy and HOLEP Laser Therapy: These approaches rely on a laser to vaporize obstructing prostate tissue or enucleate the obstruction altogether. A catheter is typically required temporarily and an overnight stay is often advised.

Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP): This remains the gold standard of treatment against which all other options are compared. During the procedure, the physician gently threads a thin instrument called a resectoscope through the urethra and into the prostate. The resectoscope, equipped with a camera, delivers electric currents to trim away obstructing tissue.

Aquablation Therapy: Using robotic technology, the surgeon delivers heat-free water jets to trim invasive prostate tissue. This procedure requires anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay.

Robotic or Open Simple Prostatectomy: In a robotic prostatectomy, the surgeon feeds instruments through a small incision and then removes the obstructing tissue via robotic-aided technology. In an open simple prostatectomy, the surgeon removes the tissue through a larger incision in the abdomen.

Additional treatments that MIU surgeons are studying and have experience with include iTind™ and Butterfly Stent. Both are minimally invasive procedures that hold great promise in the arsenal against BPH.