Caring for the health of others is at the heart of what we do. That’s why every June, the Merit Medical family brings attention to men’s health and the conditions that affect them most.
We believe that by providing patients and physicians with what they need—quality health information, technologies, and services—they’ll be better equipped to create effective care plans together.
Talking openly about these topics is key, so let’s get started. The following are men’s health conditions we support and how.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
What is BPH?
The prostate is a small gland that sits below the bladder. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, commonly referred to as BPH, is when the prostate gland enlarges.
A common non-cancerous condition, by age 60, BPH will affect 50% of all men, and that number increases to 90% by age 85.1 Bothersome symptoms of BPH can include urinary frequency and urgency, urinating more often at night, weak urine stream, and difficulty urinating.
What is PAE?
To help treat BPH symptoms, there is a minimally invasive treatment option called prostatic artery embolization (PAE). It is performed by a physician called an interventional radiologist (IR).
Under x-ray guidance, PAE begins with a tiny incision in the thigh or wrist. Through this incision, the IR guides a small tube called a catheter into the vessels that supply blood to the prostate. Once the IR reaches the desired location, embolic particles the size of a grain of sand are injected into the vessels, decreasing blood flow to the prostate. By depriving the prostate of blood, it will shrink, and symptoms will improve.
How does Merit Medical help?
We provide helpful resources for both patients and physicians.
Visit our comprehensive PAE site to explore the latest in…
PAE Patient Information
Our Ask4PAE platform explains BPH and PAE in easy-to-understand terms and offers helpful resources, like patient testimonials and a list of questions for patients to ask physicians.
PAE Technologies
From tiny particles to powerful results, physicians can find the latest in embolics and delivery systems here. Explore a couple of our flagship products.
Embosphere Microspheres have been proven, with over 25 years of clinical experience, used in more than 8,000 procedures reported in clinical studies, and mentioned in over 130 pivotal clinical articles.2
SwiftNINJA Steerable Microcatheter is a 180° articulating microcatheter, designed to rapidly select vessels during embolization.
Heart Disease
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is a term used to describe conditions that affect the heart and can include coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), and diseased valves, just to name a few.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in the United States; however, in recent years there has been a decline in prevalence.3 Improvements in medical care and an emphasis on reducing risk factors linked to the disease—such as smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure and cholesterol—are believed to play a role.3
How does Merit Medical help?
For heart disease caused by CHF, also known as pump failure, a physician will perform a minimally invasive procedure called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). During CRT, a pacemaker is placed to “resynchronize” or regulate the heart’s rhythm.
To help this patient population, we offer the Worley™ Advanced LV Delivery System, designed to accurately place LV leads at the target location.
Explore the Worley System:
Physicians can also visit our YouTube channel to explore the Worley System, find in-service videos, and learn more about procedure techniques.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation of the tissue lining. Uncomfortable symptoms can include heartburn, upper stomach or chest pain, trouble swallowing, and chronic cough.
Although GERD is a common disorder that affects more women than men, men are at a higher risk of serious complications, such as Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.4
How does Merit Medical help?
To help treat patients with chronic GERD symptoms, we offer the EsophyX® Z+ Device. When used in the minimally invasive TIF 2.0® or cTIF®* procedures, the EsophyX Z+ Device is designed to reconstruct the gastroesophageal valve and restores its function as an optimal anti-reflux barrier. This helps to provide relief of GERD symptoms and reduce acid reflux that can cause long-term complications and risk.
We also offer the EndoMAXX® and ALIMAXX-ES™, self-expanding stents designed for esophageal cancer palliative care that help to keep the esophagus open, so patients can eat and drink.
On our Stricture Management Portal, we also offer a variety of physician resources, product videos, research, patient guides, and more.
During Men’s Health Month, and every month, we strive to improve lives through the products and services we offer. Visit us to explore how we put our vision and values into practice every day to make a difference.
References
- 1. Harvard Medical School. 2024. “The Growing Problem of an Enlarged Prostate Gland.” Last modified August 10, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/the-growing-problem-of-an-enlarged-prostate-gland
- 2. Data on File.
- 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. “Heart Disease Prevalence.” Last modified June 2023. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/heart-disease-prevalence.htm
- 4. Pelzner et al. 2024. “Sex and Gender-Specific Differences in Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.” Dis Esophagus 37, no. 3 (Feb 29): doad064. doi: 10.1093/dote/doad064.
*Merit Medical defines the term “cTIF” as a consecutive Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication which consists of a Hiatal Hernia Repair (HHR) followed by a Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) procedure under a single anesthesia setting.