The prostate is a small gland in your body whose job is to help produce semen. Wrapping around your urethra—the tube through which urine passes—most men don’t think about the prostate in their 20s and 30s. But by the time you’re in your 40s, you may need to think about prostate health—this gland grows as you age, often resulting in a condition known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) that can lead to many disruptive symptoms. Here’s what you need to know.

BPH is a Common Prostate Health Concern

For many men, benign prostate growth begins in your 40s. However, most men don’t experience BPH symptoms until after their 50^th birthday. These may include:

• Nocturia (waking up several times in the night because you have to pee)
• Struggling to start or stop the flow of urine
• Frequent urination, or experiencing a sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Difficulties fully emptying the bladder
• Less commonly, blood in the urine could be a sign of BPH (Known as Hematuria.)

While not typically dangerous, many symptoms of prostate enlargement can negatively impact your quality of life. As such, it’s important to discuss your prostate health with a trusted healthcare provider. Treatment is available, and you can find relief without surgery or the fear of sexual side effects.

Understanding Treatment Options

There are many different ways to manage your prostate health when dealing with BPH symptoms. Initially, lifestyle changes can be very effective: avoid irritants such as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco to ease the burden of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Some medications can help ease your symptom burden, but neither of these options will shrink an enlarged prostate. So, if you want an option that shrinks your prostate—without surgery—for lasting relief, we invite you to explore PAE (prostatic artery embolization.) This is a minimally-invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to the prostate, allowing it to shrink without surgery or extended recovery periods. You can learn more and explore your candidacy for this procedure by reaching out to request a consultation at one of our three Georgia Endovascular locations in the Greater Atlanta area.