Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a common condition that usually affects older men. BPH, or enlarged prostate, can cause frequent or painful urination and other undesirable urinary and sexual symptoms. There are many BPH treatment options available to men. Treatment options can range from lifestyle management to surgical procedures.
If you struggle with benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH symptoms and medications are not enough to help control your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one of these minimally invasive procedures to help improve your quality of life.
Minimally Invasive BPH Surgery Options
Rezum Water Vapor Therapy
Rezum Water Vapor Therapy is a nonsurgical treatment that uses water vapor or steam to remove excess prostate tissue that is pressing on your urethra and causing undesirable symptoms. Rezum therapy is typically performed in your urologist’s office with a procedure that only takes a few minutes to complete.
Your urologist will insert a small instrument into your urethra to release sterile water vapor. When the steam contacts the prostate tissue, it causes the enlarged prostate tissue to shrink down, ultimately reducing your symptoms of BPH. You may need more than one treatment session to achieve your desired outcome. Most patients begin to notice improvement in their symptoms as soon as two weeks after the procedure.
UroLift
UroLift is a minimally invasive treatment typically performed in a one-time office visit. It rapidly relieves BPH symptoms by inserting a small device in the prostate to help open up the urethra.
During the procedure, your doctor will administer local anesthesia before inserting the UroLift Delivery Device into the urethra to gain access to the enlarged prostate. The UroLift Implants are permanently placed to lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way and open the urethra to allow more effortless flow of urine. Once the implants are placed, you can expect immediate relief from your urinary symptoms.
GreenLight Laser Therapy
GreenLight Laser Therapy is similar to Rezum, but a laser is used to heat the tissue to shrink the prostate instead of steam. It’s performed by your urologist, typically in an outpatient surgery center. In most cases, your doctor will administer general anesthesia for this procedure.
Your doctor will then insert a fiberoptic scope with a camera at the end into your urethra to reach the prostate. The fiberoptic scope then uses a high-powered laser to heat up the prostate tissue, resulting in the tissue vaporizing or shrinking. After the procedure, a catheter will be inserted to help drain your urine for a few days and allow your prostate to heal. GreenLight Laser therapy can reduce your BPH symptoms within 24 hours.
Choosing the Best Treatment for Your BPH
Each of these minimally invasive procedures has different benefits and risks. They each have the common side effects of mild to moderate discomfort, pain or burning with urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, or urinary urgency. These side effects typically resolve within two to four weeks.
Your urologist will help you decide which of the BPH surgery options is best for your particular case. Factors such as the size of your prostate, severity of symptoms, and your personal preference are considered.
Don’t continue to struggle with the inconvenient symptoms of BPH – schedule an appointment today!