When you have an enlarged prostate, BPH symptoms such as frequent and urgent urination can be disruptive to your life. Many men wish to seek relief without surgery or prescription medications, leading them to try prostate supplements. But can these unregulated supplements effectively relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia? And are they safe for consumption? Here’s what you need to know.

The Problem with Prostate Supplements

Unlike prescription medications, such as Cialis for BPH, prostate supplements aren’t regulated for efficacy or safety. As such, they may not produce their promised effects. Worse still, they could contain dangerous additives as ingredients, or interact with your current medications or supplements. For that reason, you should talk to your healthcare provider before trying any new supplement.

Common Prostate Supplements and Their Effects on BPH

The most common supplements touted for addressing BPH symptoms are:

• Saw palmetto
• Beta-sitosterol
• Rye grass
• Pygeum

Collectively, these natural supplements can help manage BPH symptoms including weak urinary flow, nocturia (waking up at night to pee), frequent and urgent urination, and urinary retention (bring unable to fully empty your bladder.) They can reportedly address difficulties stopping or starting the flow of urine.

Now, there is scientific evidence to suggest that some of these supplements can relieve the effects of prostate enlargement. However, even when there is measurable benefits—as is the case with this study exploring Pygeum benefits—researchers note that “This benefit is of modest size,” suggesting it will only help individuals with mild symptoms. Men whose BPH symptoms have become significantly disruptive are therefore unlikely to find relief from prostate supplements, meaning medical interventions may be necessary.

Relief without Surgery

In the past, men who couldn’t relieve an enlarged prostate with supplements or medications had to seek surgical treatment. Today, however, there’s a different option: Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE), a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks your prostate by blocking blood supply to the gland. It’s performed without large incisions or general anesthesia, reducing the recovery time and your risk for sexual side effects—and its efficacy is proven, unlike the benefits of prostate supplements. Ready to learn more? Reach out to our team at request a consultation at one of our three locations in the greater Atlanta area. Together, we can explore your PAE candidacy and see if this is the right treatment option for your needs.