Frequent urination, a weak urine stream, difficulty emptying your bladder, and repeated trips to the bathroom at night can be signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate. This noncancerous condition develops as the prostate grows with age and presses against the urethra, making it harder for urine to flow freely.
If you’re experiencing bothersome urinary symptoms, medication and traditional surgery aren’t your only options. Minimally invasive BPH treatments can help improve urine flow and relieve symptoms through procedures that generally involve less extensive intervention than traditional surgery.
At Conrad Pearson Clinic, our urology team offers several minimally invasive BPH treatments, including UroLift®, Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy, iTIND, Optilume, and Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE). These treatments work in different ways, and your urologist can help you determine which options may be appropriate based on your symptoms, prostate anatomy, medical history, and personal goals.
What Is Minimally Invasive BPH Treatment?
Minimally invasive BPH treatments use different techniques to address the blockage caused by an enlarged prostate. Depending on the procedure, treatment may reposition prostate tissue to improve urine flow, use steam to shrink excess tissue, temporarily reshape the urinary passage, widen the passage with a drug-coated balloon, or reduce the prostate’s blood supply so it gradually shrinks.
These procedures may offer alternatives to long-term medication or traditional surgery. However, treatments differ in how they work, who may be eligible, their potential benefits and risks, and what to expect during recovery.
The most appropriate approach depends on several factors, including prostate size and anatomy, symptom severity, bladder function, overall health, and personal treatment goals. Your urologist can help you understand these considerations and determine which options may be suitable for you.
When Should You Consider Minimally Invasive BPH Treatment?
If symptoms of an enlarged prostate interfere with your daily routine, sleep, or quality of life, it may be time to discuss additional treatment options with a urologist.
You may want to explore minimally invasive treatment if you:
- Still experience bothersome urinary symptoms despite taking medication.
- Have unwanted medication side effects or want to explore alternatives to daily prescriptions.
- Prefer to avoid more extensive surgery and want to learn about less invasive approaches.
- Experience disrupted sleep or difficulty with daily activities because of frequent urination, urgency, or trouble emptying your bladder.
Not every man with BPH needs a procedure. Depending on your symptoms and overall health, lifestyle changes, medication, or a procedural treatment may be appropriate.
Minimally Invasive BPH Treatments at Conrad Pearson Clinic
Conrad Pearson Clinic offers several minimally invasive approaches to treating an enlarged prostate. While these treatments share the goal of improving urine flow and relieving urinary symptoms, they work in different ways and may be better suited to different patients. Understanding how each treatment works can help you prepare for a discussion with your urologist about which options may be right for you.
UroLift®
UroLift uses small implants to hold enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra, creating more space for urine to flow.
During the procedure, a delivery device is passed through the urethra to place the implants. The implants remain in place to keep the obstructing tissue out of the way. Unlike treatments that use heat or remove prostate tissue, UroLift opens the urinary passage by repositioning the tissue.
UroLift may be an option for eligible men who want to improve urinary symptoms without removing prostate tissue. The implants are designed to remain in place after treatment.
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy
Rezūm uses controlled doses of steam to treat excess prostate tissue that’s blocking urine flow.
During the procedure, water vapor is delivered directly into the targeted tissue. The body’s natural healing process gradually absorbs the treated tissue, helping reduce the blockage and improve urinary symptoms over the following weeks and months. Some men may need a temporary catheter during recovery.
Rezūm may be an option for men seeking an alternative to traditional prostate surgery. Your urologist can discuss the potential benefits, risks, and effects on sexual function based on your individual circumstances.
iTIND (Temporarily Implanted Nitinol Device)
iTIND is a minimally invasive BPH treatment that temporarily reshapes the urinary passage through the prostate to help improve urine flow.
The device is placed inside the prostatic urethra, where it applies pressure at specific points to create channels that help relieve the blockage. After approximately five to seven days, the device is removed, leaving the reshaped passage in place.
Because iTIND doesn’t leave a permanent implant or use heat to treat prostate tissue, it may be an option for eligible men who prefer a temporary-device approach to managing BPH. Your urologist can help determine whether this treatment is appropriate for your symptoms and prostate anatomy.
Optilume®
Optilume uses a drug-coated balloon to widen the narrowed portion of the urinary passage within the prostate and help relieve obstruction caused by BPH.
During the procedure, a specialized catheter is used to position the balloon in the narrowed area. The balloon expands to create more room for urine to flow while delivering medication called paclitaxel directly to the treated tissue. The medication is intended to help limit tissue regrowth after treatment.
Unlike UroLift, which holds prostate tissue out of the way with implants, Optilume combines widening the urinary passage with localized medication delivery. Your urologist can evaluate your symptoms, prostate anatomy, and medical history to determine whether Optilume is a suitable treatment option.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) reduces blood flow to the prostate, allowing it to gradually shrink and relieve pressure on the urethra.
Performed by an interventional radiologist, PAE involves inserting a small catheter into an artery, typically through the wrist or groin. Tiny particles are delivered into selected blood vessels supplying the prostate, reducing its blood supply.
Unlike procedures performed through the urinary passage, PAE treats the prostate through its blood supply. It may be an option for certain men, including some with larger prostates. Symptom improvement generally develops over several weeks to months.
How Do Minimally Invasive BPH Treatments Compare?
Although these treatments share the goal of relieving urinary symptoms, each uses a different approach.
| Treatment | How It Works | Key Distinction |
| UroLift | Holds enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra. | Uses implants that remain in place. |
| Rezūm | Uses steam to treat excess prostate tissue. | The body gradually absorbs the treated tissue. |
| iTIND | Temporarily reshapes the urinary passage. | The device is removed after several days. |
| Optilume | Uses a drug-coated balloon to widen the passage. | Combines widening the passage with medication delivery. |
| PAE | Reduces blood flow to the prostate. | Treats the prostate through its blood supply. |
Which BPH treatment is best? There isn’t one option that’s right for everyone. Prostate size and anatomy, symptom severity, potential side effects, recovery expectations, and long-term goals all help determine which treatment may be most appropriate for you.
What Are the Benefits of Minimally Invasive BPH Treatment?
For eligible men, minimally invasive procedures may offer several advantages:
- Relief from urinary symptoms: Treatment may help reduce frequent urination, urgency, nighttime bathroom trips, and difficulty emptying the bladder.
- Alternatives to medication or more extensive surgery: Depending on the procedure and your circumstances, treatment may help reduce reliance on medication or provide an alternative to traditional surgery.
- Options tailored to your needs: Different procedures allow you and your urologist to consider factors such as recovery time, sexual function, and whether you prefer to avoid a permanent implant.
- A treatment plan based on your goals: Your symptoms, prostate anatomy, medical history, and personal priorities can help guide the choice of treatment.
Benefits and risks vary by procedure. Some men experience temporary urinary symptoms, need additional treatment later, or have results that differ from their expectations. Your urologist can explain what to expect from the options you’re considering.
What Is Recovery Like After Minimally Invasive BPH Treatment?
Recovery depends on the procedure and your overall health. Some men return to regular activities within a few days, while others need more time.
Temporary urinary urgency, frequent urination, burning with urination, or blood in the urine may occur after certain procedures. Some men may also need a temporary catheter to help drain the bladder during recovery.
Symptom improvement can occur relatively quickly or develop over several weeks to months, depending on the treatment. Before your procedure, your care team will explain what to expect, when you can resume normal activities, and how follow-up visits will help monitor your progress.
How Do You Choose the Right BPH Treatment?
Choosing the right treatment starts with an evaluation by a urologist to confirm what’s causing your symptoms and assess your prostate. Your evaluation may include a review of your medical history and medications, an assessment of prostate size and anatomy, and tests to measure urine flow or determine how well your bladder empties.
Your urologist will use this information to discuss suitable treatments and help you weigh factors such as symptom relief, recovery time, potential effects on sexual function, and whether you want to avoid a permanent implant or reduce medication use. The goal is to find an approach that addresses your symptoms while taking your health, preferences, and treatment goals into account.
Explore BPH Clinical Trials
In addition to established BPH treatments, Conrad Pearson Clinic offers eligible patients opportunities to participate in clinical trials evaluating innovative therapies for an enlarged prostate. These studies may provide additional options for men exploring ways to manage urinary symptoms.
Explore our BPH clinical trials to learn more about current studies and eligibility requirements.
Common Patient Questions About Minimally Invasive BPH Treatment
Can BPH Treatment Help Me Stop Taking Medication?
Some men may be able to reduce or discontinue BPH medication after a successful procedure, but this isn’t guaranteed. Your urologist can help determine whether medication changes are appropriate based on your symptoms, treatment results, and how well you’re urinating after treatment. Don’t stop taking prescribed medication without discussing it with your physician.
Do Minimally Invasive BPH Treatments Affect Sexual Function?
Potential effects on erections and ejaculation vary by procedure. Many minimally invasive treatments, such as UroLift and prostate artery embolization (PAE), have minimal to no sexual side effects, including a low risk of retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when semen flows backward into the bladder instead of out through the penis during orgasm.
Your urologist can explain the potential risks and benefits of each option so you can make an informed decision based on your symptoms, health, and treatment goals.
How Long Do Minimally Invasive BPH Treatments Last?
The duration of symptom relief depends on the procedure and individual patient factors. Some men experience improvement for years, while others may eventually need medication or additional treatment. Your urologist can discuss the expected long-term results and the possibility of additional treatment for the procedures you’re considering.
Will My BPH Symptoms Return After Treatment?
BPH symptoms may return over time, depending on the procedure, how your prostate responds to treatment, and other individual factors. Some men experience lasting relief, while others may develop recurring symptoms that require further evaluation or treatment. Regular follow-up with your urologist can help monitor your progress and address changes in your urinary symptoms.
Personalized BPH Treatment at Conrad Pearson Clinic
Choosing the right treatment for an enlarged prostate starts with understanding your symptoms, prostate anatomy, and personal health goals. At Conrad Pearson Clinic, our specialists offer personalized BPH care, with options ranging from medication and minimally invasive procedures to traditional prostate surgery.
Whether you’re looking for an alternative to daily medication or exploring procedures that may relieve urinary symptoms without more extensive surgery, we’re here to help you understand your options and make informed decisions about your care.
Explore our comprehensive BPH treatment options and schedule an appointment with Conrad Pearson Clinic to discuss your symptoms and determine which treatment options may be right for you.
