Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Treatment in Los Angeles

Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

Our board-certified interventional radiologists offer minimally invasive treatment options for enlarged prostate (BPH) in Los Angeles, helping relieve urinary symptoms without traditional surgery.

Why Treatment for Enlarged Prostate Matters

An enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is a common condition in which the prostate gland increases in size. Because the prostate surrounds part of the urethra, enlargement can place pressure on the urethra and interfere with the normal flow of urine.

BPH is non-cancerous, but its symptoms can become increasingly disruptive. Men may experience frequent urination, difficulty starting urination, a weak urine stream, incomplete bladder emptying, or the need to wake frequently during the night to urinate.

Our board-certified prostate doctors provide options that range from medication to surgical procedures, depending on the severity of symptoms and their impact on daily life.

ELMNT IR offers Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE), a minimally invasive, image-guided treatment for appropriately selected patients with symptomatic BPH.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate

Symptoms of BPH are generally related to changes in urinary function and can vary in severity.

Common enlarged prostate symptoms include:

Frequent Urination: Needing to urinate more often than usual during the day.
Nighttime Urination: Waking multiple times during the night to urinate, also known as nocturia.
Urgency: Experiencing a sudden or difficult-to-control need to urinate.
Difficulty Starting Urination: Having trouble beginning the urinary stream even when the bladder feels full.
Weak Urine Stream: Urine flow may become slower, weaker, or stop-and-start.
Incomplete Emptying: Feeling as though the bladder has not completely emptied after urination.
Dribbling: Continued dripping of urine after finishing urination.
Straining: Needing to push or strain to begin or maintain urine flow.

Urinary symptoms can have causes other than BPH. An appropriate medical evaluation is important to determine the underlying cause before treatment.

When to Seek Treatment for an Enlarged Prostate in Los Angeles

Mild BPH symptoms may initially be monitored or managed conservatively. Further evaluation may be appropriate when urinary symptoms become persistent, worsen, or begin interfering with everyday activities.

Consider seeking medical evaluation for:

Increasing urinary frequency or urgency
Frequently waking at night to urinate
Difficulty starting or maintaining urine flow
A weak or interrupted urine stream
Difficulty completely emptying the bladder
Symptoms that interfere with sleep, work, travel, or daily activities
Symptoms that continue despite medication or previous treatment

Sudden inability to urinate requires prompt medical attention.

How an Enlarged Prostate is Diagnosed

Evaluation for BPH may include:

Medical history and urinary symptom assessment
Physical examination
Review of medications and previous BPH treatments
Urine testing
Blood testing when appropriate
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing when clinically indicated
Urinary flow or bladder-emptying assessment
Ultrasound, MRI, or other imaging when needed

Because several conditions can cause urinary symptoms, an appropriate evaluation is important before attributing symptoms to an enlarged prostate.

ELMNT IR works with referring physicians and urologists to determine whether patients with confirmed symptomatic BPH may be candidates for embolization.

Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate in Los Angeles

Treatment depends on the severity of urinary symptoms, prostate characteristics, overall health, previous treatments, and patient preference.

Options may include:

Active Surveillance: Mild symptoms that are not significantly affecting quality of life may be monitored.
Lifestyle Changes: Adjustments involving fluid intake and other habits may help some patients manage urinary symptoms.
Medication: Medications may be prescribed to relax prostate and bladder muscles or help reduce prostate enlargement.
Urologic Procedures: Several minimally invasive and surgical procedures can be used to improve urinary flow by treating or removing obstructive prostate tissue.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE): A minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that reduces blood flow to the prostate, allowing the gland to shrink over time.

There is no single BPH treatment that is appropriate for every patient. Understanding the available options can help patients have an informed conversation with their urologist and interventional radiologist.

A Minimally Invasive Option: Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a catheter-based treatment for symptomatic BPH performed by an interventional radiologist.

During PAE, advanced imaging is used to identify the arteries supplying blood to the prostate. Tiny particles are delivered through a catheter to reduce blood flow to targeted areas of the prostate. The prostate can then gradually decrease in size, helping reduce pressure on the urethra and improve urinary symptoms.

Key Advantages of PAE:

Minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure
No open surgical incision
Does not require surgical removal of prostate tissue
Outpatient treatment in many cases
Designed to improve BPH-related urinary symptoms
Typically involves a shorter recovery than traditional prostate surgery

Learn more about Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

Who is a Candidate?

PAE may be considered for patients who:

Have urinary symptoms related to an enlarged prostate
Have been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Experience symptoms that interfere with sleep or everyday activities
Have not received adequate relief from medication
Want to explore an alternative to traditional prostate surgery
Have prostate anatomy and blood vessels suitable for embolization

Not every patient with urinary symptoms or BPH is a candidate for PAE. A consultation, appropriate urologic evaluation, and imaging review can help determine whether embolization is an appropriate treatment option.

Why ELMNT IR?

ELMNT IR is designed to bring advanced interventional radiology procedures out of the hospital and into a more accessible, patient-centered setting.

Specialized focus on image-guided therapies
Experience with advanced embolization procedures
Minimally invasive approach to BPH treatment
Streamlined referral and scheduling process
Outpatient environment designed for comfort and efficiency
Close coordination with referring physicians and urologists

Frequently Asked Questions About Enlarged Prostate

Is an enlarged prostate the same as prostate cancer?

No. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. However, BPH and other prostate conditions can cause overlapping symptoms. Appropriate medical evaluation is important to determine the cause of urinary changes.

What are the most common symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

Common symptoms include frequent or urgent urination, waking at night to urinate, difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, straining, and feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied

Does an enlarged prostate always require treatment?

No. Men with mild symptoms may not require immediate treatment and may be monitored by their physician. Treatment is generally considered when symptoms become bothersome, affect quality of life, or contribute to urinary complications.

Can an enlarged prostate be treated without surgery?

Yes. Treatment options for BPH include lifestyle modifications, medication, certain urologic procedures, and Prostate Artery Embolization. PAE is a minimally invasive treatment that does not require traditional surgical removal of prostate tissue.

What is Prostate Artery Embolization?

PAE is an image-guided procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. A small catheter is guided to arteries supplying the prostate, where tiny particles are delivered to reduce blood flow. This allows the prostate to gradually shrink and can help improve urinary symptoms associated with BPH.

How do I know if I am a candidate for PAE?

Candidacy depends on factors such as the cause and severity of urinary symptoms, prostate size and anatomy, medical history, previous BPH treatments, and imaging findings. Evaluation by the appropriate physicians can determine whether PAE should be considered.

Where can I get minimally invasive BPH treatment in Los Angeles?

ELMNT IR in West Los Angeles evaluates patients for Prostate Artery Embolization as a minimally invasive treatment option for symptomatic BPH. A consultation and review of the appropriate medical evaluation and imaging can determine whether PAE may be an option.

Next Steps

If frequent urination, nighttime bathroom trips, weak urine flow, or other symptoms of an enlarged prostate are interfering with your daily life, an evaluation can help determine the cause and clarify your treatment options.

For appropriately selected patients with BPH, Prostate Artery Embolization may provide a minimally invasive alternative to traditional prostate surgery.

Request a consultation or speak with your physician or urologist about referral to ELMNT IR.

Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Treatment in Los Angeles