Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Specialist
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Endovascular and Interventional Associates
Mobolaji Odelowo, MD
Vascular & Interventional Radiology & Vein Center located in Conroe, TX
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), better known as an enlarged prostate, affects about half of men between the ages of 51 and 60, and your risk only increases as you get older. At Endovascular and Interventional Associates, Mobolaji Odelowo, MD, offers one of today’s most advanced treatments for BPH: prostate artery embolization. If medications don’t help your BPH and you face surgery, it’s time to talk with Dr. Odelowo about this effective, permanent, and minimally invasive treatment option. Don’t wait to call the office in Conroe, Texas, or schedule an appointment online today.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Q&A
What causes benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH develops naturally as you get older. It’s normal and expected for your prostate to keep growing during adulthood, likely due to changes in hormone levels. If it gets large enough to cause symptoms, you have BPH.
Though benign prostatic hyperplasia doesn’t cause prostate cancer, and it doesn’t raise your risk of cancer, it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
What symptoms occur if I have benign prostatic hyperplasia?
The urethra, the tube that carries urine from your bladder and out of your penis, goes through the center of your prostate gland. As the gland gets larger, it pushes against the urethra, which affects the flow of urine.
If you have benign prostatic hyperplasia, you may experience:
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- A weak urine stream that stops and starts
- Frequent need to urinate
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Dribbling after you urinate
- Frequent urination during the night
- Inability to empty your bladder
- Inability to urinate
The same symptoms appear for many possible conditions, from an inflamed prostate and a urinary tract infection to bladder stones and prostate cancer. For this reason, it’s important to see your physician when symptoms appear.
How is benign prostatic hyperplasia diagnosed?
Your initial exam includes a review of your symptoms, physical exam, urine test, blood test, and digital rectal exam. Depending on the results, you may need urodynamic testing to determine if you empty your bladder or to measure the strength of your urine flow. In more complex cases, you may need additional testing.
How is benign prostatic hyperplasia treated?
If you have mild or moderate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, you may only need medications that shrink the prostate or help you urinate. When medications don’t work, your doctor recommends one of several conventional surgeries to remove, destroy, or vaporize part of your prostate.
You also have another treatment choice at Endovascular and Interventional Associates: prostate artery embolization.
How does prostate artery embolization treat BPH?
Prostate artery embolization blocks blood flow to the prostate. The lack of blood makes the prostate shrink, which eases your symptoms.
Dr. Odelowo performs prostate artery embolization by inserting a catheter into an artery in your thigh or wrist. Using real-time imaging to see your blood vessels, he guides the catheter to your prostate. Then he releases tiny plastic beads into the arteries that supply blood to the gland, where they permanently block the artery.
Prostate artery embolization doesn’t affect your sexual function, and most men with BPH are good candidates.
If you need safe, long-lasting treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, call Endovascular and Interventional Associates or schedule an appointment online today.
