What BPH symptoms can mean, and where a minimally invasive option fits.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is common as men age, and it does not always require treatment right away. What usually prompts an evaluation is a change in how the bladder empties: a weaker stream, waking multiple times overnight, or a sense that the bladder is never quite empty.

Evaluation typically starts with a symptom review and prostate imaging, often in coordination with a urologist. From there, the options range from monitoring and medication to procedures, depending on how much the symptoms affect daily life.

Prostate artery embolization is one image-guided option, performed through a small access point rather than open surgery. It reduces blood flow to the enlarged tissue and is considered alongside, not instead of, a urology evaluation.

Worth bringing to your appointment

• Track how often nighttime urination interrupts sleep
• Ask whether medication has been tried and how it has helped
• Bring a urologist referral or prior prostate imaging if you have one

Educational content cannot replace an individual evaluation. Follow the instructions from your own VIS care team.