Researchers develop new treatment for enlarged prostate

A prescription to buy Flomax can help most men with an enlarged prostate overcome their symptoms. However, some individuals may experience persistent problems even after taking this medication. A new study has determined that interventional radiology may be an effective treatment for the most serious enlarged prostate cases.

Typically, a man's only option if medications are not effective is surgery. However, this can have a number of undesirable side effects, including erectile dysfunction. The University of Sao Paulo researchers who conducted the study said that radiation may solve this dilemma.

For the study, the team administered radiation treatments to 11 men with enlarged prostates. The results showed that 10 of the participants experienced significant improvements in their condition without suffering the typical side effects associated with surgery.

"Having an enlarged prostate is very common in many men over the age of 50, and these new findings provide hope for those who might not be candidates for transurethral resection of the prostate, and may allow them to avoid serious complications that sometime result from surgery," said Francisco Cesar Carnevale, who led the study.