During your urology appointment to discuss if you are a candidate for prostate artery embolization (PAE), consider asking the questions below. The questions will help you understand your condition and your treatment options.

Questions about Benign Prostate Hyperlasia (BPH):

• What is the prostate?
• What causes BPH?
• How common is BPH?
• Will BPH symptoms get better or worse over time?
• Is BPH prostate cancer? Does BPH increase my risk for prostate cancer?
• Can my lifestyle, such as my diet, exercise habits, and stress level, affect my BPH?

Questions about BPH treatments:

• How do you treat BPH in most patients? What are the benefits and risks of each treatment?
• What are my surgical treatment options? What are the pros and cons of these treatments?
• What are my less invasive treatment options? What are the pros and cons of these treatments?
• If I don’t want surgery, what are my other options?
• What are the rsisk and benefits of watchful waiting?
• What medicines can treat BPH? Can I take these medicines? Why or why not? What are their risks? Are there any side effects?

Questions about surgical options:

• Do I need surgery? Will you remove all or part of my prostate? Why?
• Is there a surgery you recommend for me?
• What are the risks of surgery?
• What are the risks of postponing surgery?
• Will I experience erectile dysfunction (ED) after surgery?
• Can you treat ED? How?
• What are the benefits and risks of ED treatment?
• Will surgery cure BPH?

Questions for a urologist about PAE:

• Do you refer patients to an interventional radiology (IR) for PAE? Why or why not?
• How many of your patients have chosen to use PAE?
• Will you refer me to an IR for a consultation? Why or why not?

Questions for an interventional radiologist (IR) about PAE:

• How often does PAE successfully treat BPH?
• Are patients happy and satisfied with the results of the procedure?
• What are the complications of PAE? How often do they happen?
• What happens during and after PAE?
• How long does PAE take? How long is recovery from PAE?
• How long will I be in the hospital after PAE?
• How long will I be away from work for PAE?
• When can I have sex again after PAE?
• Will I be able to achieve an erection and ejaculate normally after PAE?
• Does my insurance plan cover PAE?
• Will I see you or my urologist for follow-up care? What kind of follow-up care do I need?
• After blood supply is reduced, what happens to my prostate?
• Will my BPH symptoms come back?
• Is PAE right for me?