Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is non-cancerous prostate enlargement that affects most men over 50. It causes urinary symptoms like weak stream, frequent nighttime urination, and incomplete bladder emptying. Current treatments range from watchful waiting to medications that relax the prostate or shrink it, to minimally invasive procedures and surgery.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing newer minimally invasive procedures using water vapor, laser, and robotics that aim to preserve sexual function better than older surgeries. Studies also explore combinations of existing medications, long-acting drug formulations, and whether treating related conditions like metabolic syndrome improves BPH outcomes. Some research examines whether certain supplements or dietary changes affect prostate size.
Minimally invasive procedures
Water vapor therapy, robotic waterjet ablation, and newer laser techniques aim to relieve obstruction with faster recovery and fewer sexual side effects than traditional surgery. Many of these procedures can be done without general anesthesia.
Combination drug therapy
Studies test whether combining alpha blockers that relax the prostate with drugs that shrink it works better than either alone. Researchers also explore adding medications for overactive bladder to treat the full range of urinary symptoms.
Prostatic artery embolization
This outpatient procedure blocks blood vessels feeding the prostate, causing it to shrink. Early studies show promise for men who can't tolerate surgery or medication.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on prostate size, symptom severity measured by questionnaire, whether you've tried medications, and overall health status for procedure trials.
What types of trials are currently open
- Procedure comparison trials — Comparing new minimally invasive techniques to standard surgery or to each other, measuring both symptom relief and preservation of sexual function.
- Medication trials — Testing new drug combinations, longer-acting formulations, or medications that work through different mechanisms than current options.
- Device trials — Testing implants or devices that hold the prostate open without removing tissue, aiming for quick recovery and reversibility.
- Lifestyle intervention studies — Examining whether weight loss, exercise, or dietary changes reduce BPH symptoms or slow prostate growth.
- Quality of life studies — Following men after various treatments to understand long-term outcomes, sexual function, and satisfaction with different approaches.
Recently added Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia trials
Learning Curve of Tri-lobar HoLEP Versus En-bloc HoLEP
Several HoLEP techniques have been developed, with the conventional tri-lobar and the en-bloc approaches being the most commonly practiced. Although both techniques achieve comparable functional outcomes and safety profiles, they differ in surgical dissection strategy and anatomical orientation. Some authors suggest that the en-bloc technique may facilitate maintenance of the correct surgical plane, whereas others consider the tri-lobar approach easier for surgeons familiar with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, evidence comparing their learning characteristics remains limited. Most published studies evaluating the HoLEP learning curve have investigated a single surgical technique or assessed a second technique after surgeons had already gained substantial HoLEP experience. Such study designs introduce significant bias because increasing surgical experience inevitably influences subsequent performance. A prospective alternating design, in which a HoLEP-naïve surgeon performs consecutive tri-lobar and en-bloc procedures, may provide a more balanced comparison by exposing both techniques to similar levels of cumulative surgical experience while minimizing temporal bias.
Receive a new sealant during prostate water ablation surgery
Randomized, single-blinded investigational study to assess the safety of PuraStat following the Aquablation procedure
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