Dealing with an enlarged prostate can be more than just uncomfortable—it can disrupt your sleep, your routine, and your overall quality of life. Waking up several times during the night, rushing to the bathroom, or feeling like your bladder never fully empties can quickly become exhausting and disruptive.
It’s no surprise that many men ask:
Can an enlarged prostate go back to normal on its own?
The short answer is: not usually. While symptoms may improve temporarily, the prostate itself rarely shrinks without proper treatment. The good news is that there are safe, effective, and minimally invasive options available to men in Kingston.
Why Does the Prostate Become Enlarged?
An enlarged prostate—also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—is a common condition as men get older. It is not cancer, and it does not increase your risk of prostate cancer, but it can significantly affect your daily life.
The prostate surrounds the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. As the gland enlarges, it presses on the urethra, leading to symptoms such as:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Weak urine flow
- Difficulty starting urination
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
BPH is very common. By age 60, about half of all men will experience symptoms, and that number increases to almost 90 percent by age 85. Hormonal changes—particularly involving testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)—are believed to play a key role in this process.
Can Lifestyle Changes Reverse BPH?
In the early stages, your doctor may recommend “watchful waiting.” This approach focuses on managing symptoms through simple changes, such as:
- Reducing fluids before bedtime
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
While these steps can make symptoms more manageable, they do not reduce the size of the prostate.
Some men also try herbal remedies like saw palmetto. However, current medical evidence shows that these supplements have inconsistent results and are not proven to shrink the prostate.
What Happens If You Ignore BPH?
The uncomfortable truth is that BPH is a progressive condition. If left untreated, the prostate will likely continue to grow, causing further blockage in the urethra. Over time, this can lead to worsening symptoms and potentially serious complications, including urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or even kidney damage due to urine backing up from the bladder.
If your symptoms are interfering with your sleep or daily activities, it may be time to consider treatment options.
Are Medications Enough?
For many men, the first line of treatment for an enlarged prostate involves prescription medications. Doctors commonly prescribe alpha-blockers to relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. Another group of medications, known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, works by slowing the hormonal processes that cause the prostate to grow.
While these medications can be helpful, they are not always a complete solution. They often require long-term use and may come with side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, or sexual dysfunction.
When medications do not provide enough relief—or when the side effects become difficult to manage—many men begin looking for alternative treatment options that offer more lasting results.
A Modern, Minimally Invasive Option: Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
For men seeking relief without the risks or recovery time associated with surgery, minimally invasive procedures have become an increasingly attractive option.
Prostatic Artery Embolization, or PAE, is an advanced, non-surgical treatment that offers effective symptom relief without the need for traditional surgery.
Rather than cutting into or removing prostate tissue, PAE targets the root cause of the enlargement: the excess blood flow feeding the gland. At MISO Medical in Kingston, this outpatient procedure is performed by Dr. Foote, a fellowship-trained interventional radiologist with extensive experience in advanced, image-guided treatments.
During PAE:
- A small catheter is inserted through the wrist or groin
- It is guided to the arteries supplying the prostate
- Tiny particles are used to reduce blood flow to the gland
Over time, the prostate shrinks naturally. As the prostate becomes smaller, pressure on the urethra decreases, helping to improve urinary symptoms.
Benefits of PAE Compared to Surgery
When exploring treatment options for an enlarged prostate, many men are concerned about the risks, recovery time, and potential side effects of traditional surgery. Procedures such as TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) can be effective, but they often require hospital stays, anaesthesia, and a longer recovery period.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) offers a less invasive alternative with several important advantages:
No major surgery – PAE is performed through a small catheter, without cutting or removing prostate tissue.
Outpatient procedure – Most patients return home the same day, without the need for hospital admission.
Faster recovery – Many men resume normal activities within a few days, compared to weeks with surgery.
Lower risk of complications – Reduced risk of bleeding, infection, and surgical complications.
Preserves sexual function – Unlike some surgical options, PAE has a much lower risk of erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation.
No risk of urinary incontinence – PAE avoids damage to structures that control bladder function.
Long-lasting relief – Clinical studies have shown sustained improvement in urinary symptoms and quality of life for several years after treatment.
Rather than removing or cutting prostate tissue, PAE works by reducing the blood supply to the prostate. This allows the gland to shrink naturally over time, relieving pressure on the urethra without the risks associated with surgery.
For many men, this means effective symptom relief without the disruption, downtime, or long-term side effects that can come with more invasive procedures.
When Should You See a Doctor?
You should consider seeking medical advice if you:
- Wake up frequently at night to urinate
- Experience difficulty starting or maintaining urine flow
- Feel that your symptoms are affecting your daily life
- Have not found relief with medication
Early evaluation can help prevent complications and give you access to more treatment options.
Take Control of Your Health with MISO Medical
When you’re waking up multiple times each night or organising your day around bathroom visits, it can begin to limit your daily life. With the right treatment, however, you can regain control and return to a more normal, comfortable routine.
At MISO Medical in Kingston, we provide patient-centred, minimally invasive care designed to help you return to your normal routine as quickly as possible. Our team focuses on safe, evidence-based treatments like Prostate Artery Embolization, helping patients find relief without major surgery.
If you are experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate, schedule a consultation today to learn more about your options and whether PAE is right for you.