Experts say there are around three million men in the UK with symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Most men do not need surgery and can make lifestyle changes or take medications, but if that doesn't work, there are various surgical options.
Dr. Ranan Dasgupta, who operated on King Charles at the London Clinic, offers five types of surgery for enlarged prostates, according to his profile page on the hospital's website.
These are aquaablation therapy, prostatic artery embolization, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Urolift, and Rezm.
Doctors say these treatments typically require an overnight stay in the hospital for observation, but patients can be discharged the next day.
Patients should avoid heavy lifting or daily exercise for 2 weeks for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery, but they can walk or do light housework as soon as they get home.
Men can usually resume sex 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.
Hamid Aboudi, consultant urologist and prostate expert, said in an email that no treatment is necessarily better than another and it is up to each patient to decide which treatment they choose. He said it depends on the situation.
Each surgeon and patient must consider the size of the prostate and its shape, the man's overall health and fitness, the symptoms that bother him most, and the side effects he is most likely to tolerate.
water ablation
There are two types of water ablation surgery.
The first method involves injecting water into the prostate using a probe passed through the urethra.
The water pressure is then used to destroy some of the prostate tissue, making it smaller.
The second type is very similar except that steam is used instead of water to destroy prostate tissue.
prostatic artery embolism
The catheter is inserted into an artery in your groin or wrist. It uses X-ray guidance to send blood to the blood vessels that supply the prostate.
Small plastic particles are injected into these blood vessels, reducing the blood supply to the prostate and causing it to shrink.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
TURP involves removing part of the prostate using a device called a resectoscope that is inserted into the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body).
urolift
The surgeon inserts the UroLift implant, which holds the enlarged prostate away from the urethra and prevents it from becoming obstructed. This reduces symptoms such as pain and difficulty when urinating.
Rezum
Rezum is a minimally invasive treatment that relieves painful urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate without affecting sexual function.
Heat energy is used to destroy prostate tissue and shrink the prostate.