Access. The skin over the radial artery at your wrist is numbed and a thin sheath is placed. Groin access is used when wrist anatomy isn’t suitable, and the earlier imaging usually tells us which it will be. You get medication through the IV to keep you relaxed. You are not put under.
Mapping. Using live X-ray and contrast dye, your physician finds the arteries feeding the prostate. This is the demanding part and it’s where most of the time goes. Cone beam CT imaging is often used to confirm the catheter is in the right vessel and to identify small branches heading toward the bladder or rectum that need to be avoided or protected.
Embolization. A microcatheter is advanced into the prostate artery and microscopic beads are released until blood flow to the gland slows. Both sides are treated in the same sitting whenever the anatomy allows, because treating both is associated with better results.
No hospital stay. You go home within a few hours of the procedure.
A single pinhole instead of an incision — and no tissue is removed.
Very low risk of erectile dysfunction or retrograde
ejaculation.
Medically necessary PAE is covered by Medicare and most major plans.
Moderate to severe IPSS scores, or symptoms that have started dictating your sleep, your travel, or your work. Mild symptoms that don’t trouble you generally don’t need a procedure.
Dizziness, fatigue, and sexual side effects drive a lot of men away from alpha blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Failing or not tolerating medication is among the most common reasons men come to us.
PAE does not cause retrograde ejaculation. For many men, preserving normal ejaculation is one of the main reasons they choose this treatment over traditional surgery.
Several minimally invasive options work best on smaller glands. PAE has been performed successfully on very large prostates, including in men told open surgery was their only option.
Men on anticoagulation they can’t safely stop, or with heart or lung conditions that make general anesthesia hazardous, are often still candidates.
In a large published series, 94% of catheter-dependent patients were catheter free three months after PAE. Other studies report lower figures, particularly in men who’ve had catheters for a long time.
| Treatment | Anesthesia | Catheter after | Recovery Time | Sexual side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prostate artery embolization (PAE) WHAT WE DO | Light sedation | Usually none | A few days | Very low risk |
| UroLift (implants) | Local/light | Sometimes, briefly | A few days | Low (size limited) |
| TURP (surgical resection) | General/spinal | Yes, commonly several days | 2-4 weeks | Common (retrograde) |
| Open / laser prostatectomy | General | Yes, typically | 2–6 weeks | Higher risk |
| Medication | None | No | None | Possible (manages only) |
TURP causes retrograde ejaculation in the large majority of patients, meaning semen goes backward into the bladder. PAE does not carry that risk.
PAE has a lower risk of urinary incontinence than prostatectomy. No tissue is removed, so the muscles that control urination stay intact.
PAE has been used successfully on very large prostates, including men who were told their only option was open surgery.
Because there's no cutting or instruments through the urethra, PAE is an option for men who can't stop blood thinners or undergo general anesthesia.
Many men choose prostate artery embolization to get off BPH medications due to side effects like dizziness, fatigue, or sexual dysfunction.
Fellowship trained interventional radiologists. Working through small vessels under live imaging is the core of the discipline.
Not every man with BPH is a good candidate for PAE. If your symptoms suggest another cause, we'll tell you.
Clinics in Atlanta, Stockbridge and Tucker, Georgia make advanced prostate care easy to access close to home.
3225 Cumberland Blvd. Southeast
Suite 520
Atlanta, GA 30339
1975 Lakeside Pkwy
Suite 300
Tucker, GA 30084
1035 Southcrest Dr.
Suite 220 + 250
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Usually one to three hours, depending on how straightforward your arterial anatomy turns out to be. Mapping the vessels takes longer than the embolization itself. You’ll be in the office longer than that overall, since there’s preparation beforehand and a couple of hours of monitoring afterward.
Yes, and it’s worth knowing. PSA can rise briefly right after the procedure, then falls as the prostate shrinks. One study reported mean PSA dropping from 7.4 to 3.3. That lower reading is expected and doesn’t mean cancer risk has changed. Tell any doctor ordering a PSA that you’ve had PAE, so the result is interpreted correctly. Learn more here.
Often yes. Repeat embolization is possible in many cases, depending on what the arteries look like the second time. Having had PAE also doesn’t prevent you from having a surgical procedure later if that becomes the better option.
PAE does not cause retrograde ejaculation and isn’t associated with erectile dysfunction. Most men resume sexual activity around two weeks, and your physician will give you a specific timeframe. Blood in the semen in the first weeks is common and settles on its own.
No. It has an established billing code, is covered by Medicare and most major insurers, and appears in the American Urological Association’s BPH guideline as an acceptable alternative for selected patients. The guideline stops short of recommending it over other minimally invasive options, which is a fair reflection of the comparative evidence rather than a question about whether it works.
Usually within a few days, though check with your physician based on how your recovery is going. Sitting for long periods in the first week can make pelvic discomfort more noticeable.
Medicare and most major plans cover treatment when it’s medically necessary, which generally means documented symptoms, appropriate imaging, and usually a trial of medication first. Requirements vary. Our team verifies your benefits and tells you your expected cost before you schedule.
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