About BPH Treatment Options PAE Procedure Am I a Candidate? What to Expect FAQs Articles Our Team Request Information →

Minimally Invasive · No Surgery Required · Charleston, WV

Avoid surgery.
Get back to living.

Minimally invasive treatment options for enlarged prostate (BPH).

We focus on minimally invasive, image-guided treatments designed to improve your quality of life and help you get back to the things you love — without major surgery.

Learn About PAE → Request Information
Take the first step toward feeling better. We’re here to help.
Request Information  →
Educational resources. Answers to your questions. Information you can trust.

Understanding Your Condition

What is BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia — or BPH — is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. As the prostate grows, it can squeeze the urethra and make urination difficult, disruptive, and uncomfortable.

50%+
of men affected by age 60
80%+
of men affected by age 80

Common Symptoms

Does any of this sound familiar?

  • Frequent urination
  • Waking up at night to urinate
  • Weak urine stream
  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Stopping and starting
  • Bladder doesn’t feel empty
  • Sudden, urgent need to urinate
  • Straining to urinate
Find Out If PAE Is Right for You →

Know Your Options

Treatment Options for BPH

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for BPH. Understanding the full range of options — and their tradeoffs — helps you make an informed decision with your doctor.

If you are struggling on medications and thinking about your next step, there are several treatment options available. Each works differently and has its own tradeoffs. Your options include Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE), UroLift, Laser therapy, and TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate).

PAE HIGHLIGHTED UroLift Laser TURP
Procedure Basics
Instruments through the penis? No Yes Yes Yes
Same-day procedure Yes Yes Usually Sometimes
Catheter afterward Usually none Usually none Usually 1 day Usually 1–3 days
Works for large prostates Yes No Yes Yes
Quality of Life
Preserves ejaculation 95% 95% 35% 35%
Short-term incontinence after procedure Rare Rare Occasional Common
Long-term incontinence risk <1% <1% 1% 2%
Impact on erectile function Preserved
may improve		 Preserved
may improve		 Neutral
to improved		 ~8% de novo ED
Effectiveness
Number of patients who notice improvement 90% 85% 90% 95%
Average improvement in urinary symptoms 60% 45% 70% 75%
Able to stop BPH medications 85% 75% 90% 95%
Need another procedure within 5 years * 15% 20% 10% 5%

* If PAE does not provide adequate relief, patients can repeat PAE or undergo any other treatment — including UroLift, laser, or TURP. PAE does not close the door on other options.

These figures represent approximate population-level averages from published literature and may vary by individual. For educational purposes only.

Request a Consultation → 🔍 Find My Best Match

The PAE Procedure

How Does Prostate Artery Embolization Work?

PAE is a minimally invasive procedure that treats an enlarged prostate by reducing its blood supply — no instruments passed through the urethra, no general anesthesia required.

01

Tiny Puncture

Through a small puncture in an artery in the wrist or groin, a thin catheter is guided through the blood vessels.

02

Precise Navigation

Using real-time imaging, the catheter is guided to the arteries supplying the prostate on both sides.

03

Tiny Particles

Microspheres — about the size of grains of sand — are injected to block blood flow to the enlarged prostate tissue.

04

Prostate Shrinks

Without its blood supply, the prostate gradually shrinks over weeks, relieving pressure on the urethra and restoring normal flow.

See FAQ Videos → Am I a Candidate?

Who Qualifies

Am I a Candidate for PAE?

PAE may be appropriate for men who have bothersome urinary symptoms from BPH and are looking for an effective alternative to medication or surgery.

Good candidates typically include men who have not responded to medications, wish to avoid surgery, or are not good surgical candidates due to other health conditions.

No referral needed.

You do not need a referral from another physician to be evaluated for PAE. Simply request information below and we will be in touch.

Patients who may benefit include:

  • ✦ Men with moderate to severe BPH symptoms
  • ✦ Men who have not had adequate relief from medications
  • ✦ Men wishing to preserve sexual function
  • ✦ Men who want to avoid general anesthesia
  • ✦ Men who are poor surgical candidates due to other health issues
Request a Consultation → 🔍 Find My Best Match

Patient Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to learn more. Images and explanations from Dr. Deipolyi.

The PAE Experience

What to Expect with PAE

From your first clinic visit to your follow-up appointments, here is what the PAE journey typically looks like.

01
Before Your Procedure
Pre-Procedure Evaluation
🏥
Clinic visit — meet your interventional radiologist to discuss your symptoms, goals, and whether PAE is appropriate for you.
📋
IPSS questionnaire — a standardized symptom score form to measure how much your symptoms are affecting your quality of life.
🔬
Ultrasound (PVR) — a quick ultrasound to measure how much urine remains in your bladder after urinating (post-void residual).
🖥️
CT or MRI — imaging to assess the size of your prostate and map the blood vessels supplying it, used to plan the procedure.
🧪
Lab work — blood tests including creatinine (kidney function), which is required before contrast dye is used during the procedure.
👨‍⚕️
No referral needed — you can contact our office directly to schedule your evaluation without a referral from another physician.
02
The Night Before
Day Before Your Procedure
🚫
Nothing by mouth after midnight — no eating, drinking, or chewing gum from midnight before your procedure day.
✂️
Shaving — consider shaving the hair on your right groin area where the catheter will be inserted.
💊
Blood thinners — most blood thinners including aspirin are continued. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions.
⚠️
Contrast allergy? — if you have had an allergic reaction to CT contrast dye, take the prescribed steroid medications 13, 7, and 1 hour before your procedure.
03
Procedure Day
Day of Your PAE
⏰
Arrive 1 hour early — plan to arrive at the interventional radiology suite one hour before your scheduled start time.
🕐
Plan for a half day — including preparation and recovery time, expect to be at the facility for approximately half a day.
🩺
Procedure time — the PAE procedure itself takes between 1 and 3 hours depending on the complexity of your prostate's blood supply.
😴
Sedation — you will be sedated during the procedure, typically twilight sedation or deeper sedation similar to what is used for a colonoscopy. Most patients feel no pain during the procedure.
🦵
After the procedure — you will need to keep your leg straight for 1 to 2 hours while the puncture site in the groin heals.
🚗
Bring a driver — you cannot drive home. Arrange for a care partner to pick you up and stay with you that evening.
04
Recovery
The Week Following PAE
✅
Minimal pain — most patients report surprisingly little pain after PAE. Some mild pelvic discomfort or flu-like symptoms may occur as the prostate responds to treatment.
⚡
Temporary worsening — urinary symptoms may temporarily increase in the first week due to inflammation. This is normal and expected.
💊
Steroids — your doctor may prescribe a short course of steroids to help reduce inflammation and ease symptoms during recovery.
🩸
Blood in urine or stool — small amounts of blood in the urine or stool may be noticed but usually resolve on their own within a few days.
05
Long-Term
Follow-Up & Results
📈
Improvement begins — most patients notice improvement in urinary symptoms starting around 2 weeks after the procedure, with ongoing improvement over the following 6 months.
📅
Follow-up visits — clinic appointments are scheduled at 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure.
📊
Repeat testing — at each visit, your IPSS symptom score and post-void residual (PVR) are repeated to objectively measure your improvement.
🎯
Long-term outcomes — about 85% of patients are able to stop BPH medications, and 90% experience meaningful symptom improvement within the first year.
Personalized Estimate
How likely is PAE to help you?
Enter your prostate volume, age, and symptom score to get a personalized estimate of your expected outcomes based on published research.
Calculate My Outcomes →

Latest Research

New Research & What It Means for You

Dr. Deipolyi regularly reviews the latest published research on PAE and BPH treatments. Here she shares what the evidence shows — in plain language.

Coming Soon

The latest evidence on PAE outcomes and durability

A review of long-term follow-up data and what it means for patients considering PAE.

Article + Video Commentary · Dr. Deipolyi
Coming Soon

PAE vs. surgery: what does the research say?

Head-to-head comparisons between PAE and TURP — symptom scores, complications, and recovery.

Article + Video Commentary · Dr. Deipolyi
Coming Soon

Sexual function after BPH treatment

Why preserving sexual function matters, and how PAE compares to other options.

Article + Video Commentary · Dr. Deipolyi

Your Physicians

Meet the Team

Our interventional radiologists see patients at our office in Charleston, West Virginia. No referral is needed to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Amy Deipolyi, MD, PhD, FSIR

Amy Deipolyi, MD, PhD, FSIR

Interventional Radiologist Division Chief Associate Professor

Dr. Deipolyi is a board-certified interventional radiologist and Division Chief of Interventional Radiology at CAMC in Charleston, WV. With over 12 years of experience, she has a dedicated focus on image-guided treatments for BPH including prostate artery embolization, and leads an active clinical research program.

Dr. Michael Korona, MD, FACR

Michael Korona, MD, FACR

Interventional Radiologist Associate Professor

Dr. Korona is a board-certified interventional radiologist with over 30 years of experience. He brings a wealth of expertise in minimally invasive vascular and interventional procedures, and sees patients alongside Dr. Deipolyi in Charleston, WV.

Request a Consultation →
📬

Check your email — and your spam folder

We've received your request. You should receive an email from BPHFreeWV.com shortly.

If you don't see it in your inbox within a few minutes, please check your spam or junk folder — automated emails sometimes land there.

The email will explain next steps and how to schedule your consultation.