Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate can now be treated via Aquablation Therapy at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital
Wheat Ridge, CO (PRUnderground) July 8th, 2026
A new treatment for patients with an enlarged prostate, a common condition that impacts millions of men in the U.S. is now available at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is a prostate that has grown to be larger than normal. BPH is not prostate cancer. As the prostate grows, it may constrict the urethra, making it difficult to urinate. It also may apply pressure on the bladder, causing the bladder to weaken and have difficulty emptying.
BPH may impact a person’s ability to hold urine or empty the bladder. If symptoms are left untreated, bladder and kidney function may be impacted over time.
There are different ways to treat an enlarged prostate through medication, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery. Previously, different treatments had varying degrees of success and included side effects such as poor response to medication, limited relief, a long recovery time, or reduced sexual function.
“We recently began offering a new therapy called Aquablation,” said Dr. Shandra Wilson, a board-certified urologist at Intermountain Health Lutheran Clinic in Wheat Ridge. “This is an advanced, minimally invasive treatment that uses imaging, robotics, and a heat-free waterjet to remove prostate tissue. Studies have shown it provides long-lasting relief with low rates of complications.”
The procedure takes about one hour and is done in the operating room with the patient under anesthesia. About 30% of patients – men whose prostates are considered bigger – will spend one night in the hospital for additional monitoring. “I see patients at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, and my partner Dr. Kathryn Scott offers the treatment at Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver,” said Dr. Wilson.
Recovery takes about two to six weeks as the bladder returns to normal function after it has been blocked for a time. “When the prostate is enlarged, it’s almost like having to pass urine through a cocktail straw,” said Dr. Wilson. “It’s so narrow, the bladder works harder to pass urine, and the bladder gets stronger. After surgery, the flow of urine is easier, so patients may have an overactive bladder for a brief time.”
Patients who have had the procedure have said they don’t get up at night, and they can empty their bladder completely. They see excellent results longer term with fewer impacts on sexual function.
“The reason I switched from the traditional way to treat BPH to using the waterjet therapy is because the patients love it,” said Dr. Wilson. “This was truly a patient-centered decision to offer this service, and I’m glad I switched.”
Shandra Wilson, MD, is a board-certified urologist at Intermountain Health Lutheran Clinic in Wheat Ridge and sees patients throughout the Denver area. She is a Colorado native (born at the former Lutheran Medical Center). Dr. Wilson has a strong clinical focus on prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers, BPH, kidney stones, and men’s health.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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