It is normal for the prostate gland to increase in size and volume with age. In the majority of cases this is non-cancerous and what is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Symptoms can include frequency of urination, nocturia (having to get up at night to pass urine), hesitancy (difficulty getting started), dribbling and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.

Prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It aims to shrink the prostate gland and improve urinary symptoms by blocking the blood supply. It is done under x-ray screening guidance and is usually a day-case local anaesthetic procedure.