Buyer guide
Patient's Buyer's Guide to BPH Treatment
How to evaluate urology centers and BPH procedures like an informed consumer — without losing sight of medical priorities.
Build your short list
- Identify centers offering the procedure(s) appropriate to your anatomy
- Verify surgeon credentials and annual procedure volume
- Confirm facility accreditation
- Read published outcome data if available
Compare written quotes
Always require an itemized written quote. Compare on like terms (all-in vs surgeon-fee-only is a 2–3× difference). Beware of "starting at" pricing and bait-and-switch upgrades.
Ten questions to ask at consultation
- How many of this procedure have you personally performed?
- What is your personal complication rate?
- What is the re-treatment rate at 5 years?
- What alternative procedures would also be reasonable?
- What sexual-function changes should I expect?
- How long will the catheter stay in?
- When can I return to work / exercise / sex?
- What is the all-in cost in writing?
- What happens if I have a complication after I get home?
- Who is on call after hours?
Red flags
- Pressure to book the day of consultation
- One-procedure-only practice
- No written quote
- Vague answers about complication rates
- No clear post-discharge contact plan
Educational content only. Not medical advice. Verify all credentials, licensing, accreditation, and procedure information directly with providers. Sources: Mayo Clinic, Urology Care Foundation, AUA, Cleveland Clinic, NIDDK, AAFP.