Meta-Analysis Compared Treatments for Enlarged Prostate
Researchers reviewed 14 surgical and minimally invasive options to see how they affect urinary and sexual function.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Men’s Health
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A meta-analysis published on August 24, 2026, evaluated 36 randomized controlled trials to compare various treatments for benign prostatic obstruction. The study, which included 4,851 patients, assessed outcomes ranging from urinary efficacy to sexual function.
Why it matters
Patients and clinicians often struggle to choose between many available procedures for prostate enlargement, as previous research focused on narrow groups of therapies. This review provides a unified framework to help weigh the trade-offs between symptom relief, recovery time, and sexual side effects.
This Bayesian network meta-analysis aggregated 36 randomized controlled trials involving 4,851 patients to compare 14 modalities for benign prostatic obstruction. The findings centered on clinical outcomes measured at the 12-month mark.
The players
International Urology and Nephrology
A peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes research on urological and nephrological conditions and surgical interventions.
The details
The analysis compared various techniques, including enucleation, ablation, and stent approaches. While bipolar TURP remains a benchmark for urinary efficacy, HoLEP and ThuLEP demonstrated shorter catheterization times by 36.26 and 26.89 hours respectively. While some procedures offered better preservation of ejaculatory function, others showed inferior urinary outcomes compared to standard resection techniques.
Timeline
August 24, 2026: The study was published online.
12 months: The assessment window for all primary clinical outcomes.
Health Landscape
This research provides a needed comparison across a wide array of surgical and minimally invasive procedures for benign prostatic obstruction. It effectively serves as an evidence-based update to existing clinical standards used to navigate the trade-offs in prostate treatment.
If you are considering surgery for a prostate obstruction, these results highlight the importance of balancing urinary outcomes with potential impacts on sexual function. Discuss with your doctor which specific procedure aligns best with your health priorities and history.
The takeaway
No single treatment significantly outperformed standard bipolar TURP for urinary efficacy at 12 months, though HoLEP reduced catheterization time and retreatment rates. Consult your urologist about how these findings might apply to your specific diagnosis and functional goals.
Further reading
For more on managing prostate-related conditions, explore our Men’s Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Renal and Urology News.
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