Men's Health · BPH
Benign Prostate
Enlargement Treatment
The full range of modern BPH treatments — Aquablation, Rezum steam therapy, prostate artery embolisation and TURP — matched to your prostate, your symptoms and your life.
Modern BPH Treatments Compared
There is no single best treatment for BPH — the right choice depends on your prostate size, symptom severity, sexual function priorities and general health. Mr Ameen will guide you through all options.
Robot-Guided Water Therapy
A robotic waterjet removes prostate tissue under real-time ultrasound guidance. Preserves the ejaculatory ducts, minimising retrograde ejaculation. Excellent for prostates 30–150g. Day case or overnight stay.
Steam (Water Vapour) Therapy
Targeted steam delivered via a small needle destroys excess prostate tissue over 3–6 months. Day-case procedure under sedation. Excellent sexual function preservation. Best for smaller prostates (30–80g).
Transurethral Resection
The gold-standard surgical treatment for decades. Prostate tissue is removed using an electric loop passed through the urethra. Highly effective, durable results. Overnight stay. General or spinal anaesthetic.
Prostate Artery Embolisation
A radiological procedure (not surgery) that reduces prostate blood supply, shrinking the gland. No anaesthetic, day case. Suitable for men unfit for surgery or wishing to avoid it. Available via interventional radiology referral.
Prostate Lift
Small implants hold open the prostate lobes without removing tissue. Day case under local anaesthetic. Preserves ejaculation. Best for smaller lateral lobe enlargement. Rapid return to activity.
Medication Management
Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride) reduce symptoms and prostate size. A reasonable first step for mild-moderate symptoms — discussed at your first appointment.
What Is Benign Prostate Enlargement?
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that affects the majority of men as they age. It is not prostate cancer and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer — but it does cause significant urinary symptoms that affect quality of life.
Who gets BPH?
BPH affects approximately 50% of men in their 50s and up to 90% of men in their 80s. The prostate normally grows during puberty and again in the mid-40s. Testosterone and its derivative DHT drive this second phase of growth. Family history, obesity and metabolic syndrome increase risk. BPH does not occur in men who were castrated before puberty, confirming the hormonal basis of the condition.
Symptoms to recognise
BPH causes both obstructive and irritative symptoms. Obstructive symptoms include a weak or intermittent stream, difficulty starting urination, straining to pass urine, dribbling after urination and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. Irritative symptoms include urgency (sudden need to urinate), frequency (needing to urinate more than 8 times a day), and nocturia (waking at night to urinate). Severe BPH can cause acute urinary retention — a complete inability to pass urine — requiring emergency catheterisation.
How BPH is diagnosed
Diagnosis involves a combination of symptom assessment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), a clinical examination including digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate, a urine flow rate test (uroflowmetry), an ultrasound bladder scan to measure post-void residual urine, and blood tests including PSA. PSA testing is recommended to exclude prostate cancer as a contributing cause of urinary symptoms, particularly in men over 50 or with a family history.
When does BPH need treatment?
Not all BPH requires active treatment. Mild symptoms may be managed with lifestyle changes — reducing caffeine, alcohol and evening fluid intake — combined with active monitoring. Treatment is indicated when symptoms significantly affect quality of life, when there is evidence of bladder damage (elevated post-void residual, recurrent infections or bladder stones), or when the patient wishes to avoid long-term medication.
BPH Treatment Costs in London
Initial Consultation
Initial urology consultation including symptom assessment, flow rate test and bladder scan from £350. A clear written management plan is provided at every appointment. PSA and other blood tests are arranged at the clinic and reported at your follow-up.
Procedure Costs
Day-case and overnight procedures (Rezum, UroLift, Aquablation, TURP) are performed at the Wellington Hospital or Chase Lodge Hospital. Fees include surgeon, anaesthetist and facility charges. All-inclusive costs are quoted individually following your assessment — prostate size and procedure complexity are the main variables.
Insurance
BPH procedures are covered by most major private health insurers when clinically indicated. Mr Ameen is recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, WPA and Vitality. Pre-authorisation from your insurer is arranged before any procedure. Self-pay options with staged payment are available on request.
BPH Treatment FAQs
Struggling with urinary symptoms? Help is available.
BPH is very treatable — and the right treatment makes a life-changing difference. Book a consultation to find out which option is right for you.