People often think they stop growing at a certain point, and in some ways that’s accurate. Your height probably capped out in adolescence, for example. But there are parts of the body that continue to grow over time. That’s true of your prostate.
This gland gets bigger throughout your life. In other words, an enlarged prostate isn’t just normal — it’s an inevitability if you get old enough. For some men, that never causes an issue. Eventually, though, the prostate can become large enough that it starts to affect nearby organs, leading to health issues you can’t ignore.
We specialize in treating enlarged prostates at Vascular & Interventional Associates in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. Our team helps men throughout northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio, area determine if their symptoms are coming from their prostate. If so, we offer leading-edge treatment, including prostatic artery embolization (PAE).
An enlarged prostate is such a common occurrence in older men that it has its own medical name: benign prostatic hyperplasia.
We have good news and bad news about BPH. The good news: Your enlarged prostate probably isn’t harmful. The “benign” in its name indicates that a bigger prostate usually isn’t cancerous.
The bad news: That doesn’t stop it from causing unwelcome symptoms. The issues often include:
All of these issues arise not because of a problem with the prostate itself, but its adjacency to another organ. As the prostate gets larger, it presses on your urethra, the tube your body uses to carry urine out.
Left unchecked, that can lead to other issues like kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs), too.
If those symptoms above sound familiar, it’s time to talk to a doctor. Acting now helps you get relief from the urinary issues of an enlarged prostate and helps you avoid more serious complications.
Sometimes, medication works to shrink the prostate. Alternatively, we offer minimally invasive, highly effective treatment for enlarged prostates. Embolization allows us to decrease blood flow to your prostate, encouraging it to shrink.
We perform PAE through a tiny incision. We also use imagining technology to guide treatment. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. And it comes with fewer side effects and a shorter recovery window than traditional surgery for enlarged prostates like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
An enlarged prostate can cause a wide range of urinary health issues. To avoid that discomfort and inconvenience, talk with our team about the right treatment option for you. Make an appointment today by calling the Vascular & Interventional Associates office or booking a visit online.
