MEN'S HEALTH
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
A minimally invasive treatment for enlarged prostate (BPH) that relieves urinary symptoms without surgery.
What Is Prostate Artery Embolization?
Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an innovative, minimally invasive procedure designed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – a common condition that causes urinary problems in men as the prostate enlarges.
At Seamless Medical Centers in Port Arthur, TX, PAE is performed using advanced imaging to reduce blood flow to the prostate. This causes the gland to shrink gradually, relieving urinary symptoms without surgery, cutting, or prostate removal.
Symptoms Treated
Frequent Urination
Urinating more often than normal, including frequent daytime trips to the bathroom.
Nighttime Urination (Nocturia)
Waking multiple times at night to urinate, disrupting sleep.
Difficulty Urinating
Straining to start urination or experiencing a weak urine stream.
Urgency
Sudden, strong urges to urinate that are difficult to control.
Incomplete Bladder Emptying
Feeling that the bladder is not fully emptied after urination.
Medication-Resistant BPH
Persistent urinary symptoms that do not improve with medication.
Frequent Urination
Urinating more often than normal, including frequent daytime trips to the bathroom.
Nighttime Urination (Nocturia)
Waking multiple times at night to urinate, disrupting sleep.
Difficulty Urinating
Straining to start urination or experiencing a weak urine stream.
Urgency
Sudden, strong urges to urinate that are difficult to control.
Incomplete Bladder Emptying
Feeling that the bladder is not fully emptied after urination.
Medication-Resistant BPH
Persistent urinary symptoms that do not improve with medication.
Are You a Candidate for PAE?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may be a candidate for this treatment.
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Have you ever been diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
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Procedure Details
During your consultation, our specialists will:
Pre-Procedure Preparation
Our Port Arthur care team will review your symptoms, medical history, and imaging to determine if prostate artery embolization is the right treatment for your enlarged prostate.
The PAE Procedure
PAE is performed using a small catheter guided through an artery to reach the prostate’s blood supply. Tiny embolization particles are used to reduce blood flow, causing the prostate to shrink over time. The procedure typically takes one to two hours.
Post-Procedure Care
PAE is an outpatient procedure. Mild urinary symptoms or pelvic discomfort may occur temporarily and are usually managed with medication. Most patients return home the same day.
We take time to answer all your questions and ensure you fully understand your options.
We'll answer all your questions and ensure you fully understand your options, even if that means we think you are better suited by procedures we don't offer.
Benefits and Risks
Typical Benefits
- •Outpatient procedure with faster recovery than surgery
- •Significant reduction in urinary symptoms in 75-95%
- •Preservation of sexual function
- •Going into the penis is not required
Potential Risks
- •Possible need for additional treatment if symptoms return (similar to TURP)
- •Small risk of non-target embolization affecting nearby tissues
Recovery and Outlook
Recovery from prostate artery embolization is typically quick. Most men return to light activities within 24–48 hours and resume normal routines within a week.
Urinary symptom improvement often begins within days, with maximum improvement occurring over 1–3 months as the prostate gradually shrinks. Clinical studies show long-lasting relief for many patients, with results lasting 3–5 years or longer.
Answers to Your
Common Questions
PAE provides long-lasting symptom relief by reducing blood flow to the prostate, causing it to shrink. Studies show that 70-85% of men experience significant and durable symptom improvement lasting several years. While the prostate may continue to age naturally, PAE addresses the current enlargement effectively and many patients maintain results for 5+ years without additional intervention.
PAE offers comparable symptom relief to surgical options like TURP with significantly fewer risks and complications. Unlike surgery, PAE preserves sexual function with minimal risk of erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation. PAE requires no general anesthesia, no catheter (or brief catheter use), faster recovery (days vs weeks), and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Surgical options may provide slightly faster initial results, but PAE avoids surgical risks.
PAE has minimal impact on sexual function, which is a major advantage over surgical treatments. The risk of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems is very low (less than 5%), compared to 10-30% with surgical options. Most men maintain their current level of sexual function after PAE, and some report improvement due to reduced urinary symptoms and discontinued medications that may have affected sexual performance.
Most men begin noticing symptom improvement within 2-4 weeks after PAE, with progressive improvement over 3-6 months as the prostate continues to shrink. Some patients experience relief even sooner. Maximum benefit is typically achieved by 3-6 months post-procedure. During the first few weeks, you may experience temporary increased urinary frequency as your body adjusts.
Good candidates for PAE include men with moderate to severe BPH symptoms who haven’t responded adequately to medications, cannot tolerate medication side effects, or wish to avoid surgery. PAE is particularly suitable for men concerned about preserving sexual function, those with medical conditions that increase surgical risk, or those on blood thinners. A consultation and imaging assessment will determine if your prostate anatomy is suitable for PAE.
PAE coverage varies by insurance provider and policy. Many major insurance plans now cover PAE when medically necessary, though some may still consider it investigational. We work directly with your insurance provider to obtain pre-authorization and verify coverage. Our team will inform you of your coverage status and any out-of-pocket costs before scheduling your procedure.
Your physician: Zagum Bhatti, M.D.
Board-Certified Interventional Radiologist · Former Assistant Professor of VIR, UTHealth Houston
Dr. Bhatti is fellowship-trained in the vascular and interventional techniques used in prostate artery embolization.
Meet Dr. Bhatti →