Frequent bathroom trips, weak urine flow, urgency, and waking repeatedly at night may be signs of an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.
Prostate artery embolization—also called prostatic artery embolization or PAE—is a minimally invasive treatment that reduces blood flow to selected areas of the enlarged prostate. The prostate gradually shrinks, helping relieve pressure on the urethra and improve urinary symptoms. PAE does not require an incision in the prostate or removal of prostate tissue.
At Midwest Institute for Non-surgical Therapy, PAE care is led by Goke Akinwande, MD, a board-certified interventional radiologist and Medical Director serving patients throughout the greater St. Louis region and Metro East Illinois.
PAE is intended to treat urinary symptoms caused by noncancerous prostate enlargement. It does not treat prostate cancer, and an evaluation is needed to determine whether it is appropriate for you.
Consultations are available through MINT offices across the St. Louis region and Swansea, Illinois. Our team will confirm the appropriate consultation office and procedure location.
Board-Certified Interventional Radiology Care
No Prostate Tissue Removed
Usually Home the Same Day
Local St. Louis-Area Access
Are Urinary Symptoms Affecting Your Life?
An enlarged prostate may cause symptoms that interrupt sleep, travel, work, and everyday routines. Common symptoms include:
● Frequent or urgent urination
● Waking several times at night to urinate
● Difficulty starting urination
● A weak or interrupted urine stream
● Straining to urinate
● Dribbling after urination
● Feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely
These symptoms are often caused by BPH, but infections, bladder problems, prostate inflammation, medications, and other conditions can cause similar symptoms. A proper evaluation is necessary before choosing treatment.
Learn more about enlarged prostate symptoms and treatment options
What Is Prostate Artery Embolization?
PAE is an image-guided procedure used to relieve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate.
During treatment, an interventional radiologist guides a small catheter through an artery in the wrist or groin and into the arteries that supply the prostate. Tiny medical particles are delivered into selected prostate arteries to reduce blood flow. The treated areas of the prostate gradually shrink, which can reduce pressure on the urethra and improve urinary flow, urgency, frequency, and nighttime urination.
PAE does not remove prostate tissue and does not treat prostate cancer.
How PAE Works
1. A small catheter is placed
A small catheter is inserted through an artery in the wrist or groin. Local numbing medicine and sedation are commonly used for comfort.
2. The prostate arteries are mapped
Using live imaging, the interventional radiologist guides the catheter into the small arteries supplying the prostate.
3. Selected blood flow is reduced
Tiny medical particles are delivered into the prostate arteries. The prostate then shrinks gradually, helping relieve pressure on the urinary channel.
Could PAE Be Right for You?
PAE may be considered when:
● BPH symptoms interfere with sleep or daily life
● Medication has not provided enough relief
● Medication causes unwanted side effects
● You want to compare a minimally invasive option with surgery
● You are concerned about the urinary or sexual side effects of other treatments
● Your health, prostate anatomy, bladder function, or treatment goals require an individualized approach
Not every urinary problem is caused by an enlarged prostate, and PAE is not right for everyone. Your evaluation may include a symptom assessment, urine testing, PSA review, prostate imaging, bladder-emptying measurements, and review of previous urology care.
Potential Benefits and Important Considerations
| Potential benefits | Important considerations |
|---|---|
| No surgical incision in the prostate | Improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate |
| No prostate tissue removed through the urethra | Temporary urinary burning, urgency, pelvic discomfort, or fatigue can occur |
| Usually performed as an outpatient procedure | The procedure requires arterial access, imaging, and contrast |
| Shorter recovery than many traditional prostate operations | Not every patient experiences the same level of improvement |
| Lower risk of certain sexual side effects and urinary incontinence than more invasive surgery | Some patients may later need medication, repeat PAE, or another BPH treatment |
| Gradual improvement in urinary symptoms | PAE does not diagnose or treat prostate cancer |
PAE vs. TURP
PAE and TURP can both relieve symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, but they treat the prostate differently.
| PAE | TURP | |
|---|---|---|
| Physician | Interventional radiologist | Urologist |
| Approach | Catheter through an artery | Instrument through the urethra |
| Tissue removed | No | Yes |
| Improvement | Usually gradual | Often more immediate |
| Recovery | Typically shorter | Typically longer |
| Best fit | Depends on anatomy, symptoms, health, and goals | Depends on anatomy, symptoms, and need for tissue removal |
Neither treatment is best for everyone. Some patients benefit more from direct tissue removal, while others prioritize a minimally invasive treatment with a different recovery and side-effect profile.
What Is Recovery Like After PAE?
| Time | What patients may experience |
|---|---|
| Procedure day | Most patients are monitored after treatment and return home the same day. |
| First several days | Temporary pelvic aching, burning with urination, frequency, urgency, tiredness, low-grade fever, nausea, or blood-tinged urine may occur. Symptoms are usually mild. |
| Following weeks | Some men begin noticing stronger flow, less urgency, or fewer nighttime bathroom trips. |
| Following months | Improvement can continue as the prostate gradually shrinks. |
Meet Dr. Goke Akinwande
Board-Certified Interventional Radiologist and Medical Director of MINT
Dr. Goke Akinwande, known to many patients as Dr. A, specializes in minimally invasive, image-guided treatment. His professional background includes training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as a former faculty position at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where he taught and mentored medical students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Akinwande is extensively published and has presented nationally and internationally. His approach emphasizes evidence-based care, patient education, clear communication, and access to high-quality minimally invasive treatment.
Learn More About PAE
Who Is a Candidate for PAE?
Understand which symptoms and medical factors are considered before treatment.
PAE Recovery and Side Effects
See what commonly happens during the first few days, weeks, and months.
PAE vs. Other BPH Treatments
Compare PAE with TURP, HoLEP, UroLift, Rezūm, and Aquablation.
Is PAE Painful?
Learn what patients may feel during and after the procedure.
How Successful Is PAE?
Learn how results are measured and how long improvement may last.
PAE Cost and Insurance
Understand insurance authorization, coverage, and estimates.
Hear From a MINT PAE Patient
DISCLAIMER: Individual experiences vary. A patient’s experience does not guarantee the same result for another patient.
PAE Consultations in the St. Louis Region
MINT offers consultations through offices in Town & Country / St. Louis, Florissant, Kirkwood, Mehlville, and Swansea, Illinois. The scheduling team will confirm the appropriate consultation office and where the procedure will be performed.
Insurance and Cost
Insurance coverage for PAE depends on the insurance company, specific plan, medical-necessity criteria, network status, and authorization requirements. MINT can review the available insurance information and explain the next steps before treatment.
FAQs
Find Out Whether PAE Fits Your Treatment Goals
You do not have to decide between PAE and other BPH treatments on your own. A consultation can help determine what is causing your symptoms and which treatment best fits your health, anatomy, and priorities.
Medical Review and Disclaimer
Written and medically reviewed by Goke Akinwande, MD, Board-Certified Interventional Radiologist and Medical Director of MINT.
Last medically reviewed: 23rd August 2026
Disclaimer: This page is intended for general patient education and does not provide a diagnosis or individual medical advice. Treatment recommendations require review of symptoms, medical history, examination, testing, and imaging.