What is Benign Prostate Enlargement and What Are Its Symptoms?
Difficulty urinating, frequent urination, waking up at night to urinate… These complaints, which are common in many men as they age, are most often caused by benign prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia – BPH).
Is Surgery Necessary?
No. Today, thanks to minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment methods, BPH can be managed without the need for surgery.
The Most Popular Non-Surgical Methods
Two methods that have gained prominence in recent years:
• Rezum – Steam therapy
• PAE – Prostatic artery embolisation
Both work on different principles. However, there are significant differences in terms of success rates, side effects and applicability.
Rezum: Targeted Treatment with the Power of Steam
Rezum is a procedure performed through the urinary tract, in which controlled steam is delivered into the prostate. The steam destroys cells, and the tissue shrinks over time.
Advantages:
• Targets only the enlarged tissue.
• High rate of preservation of sexual function.
• Allows for a quick return to normal life.
• High success rate in cases of medium-sized prostates.
• Effective in patients with a median lobe.
Procedure Duration: Approximately 15 minutes, typically performed under local anaesthesia, with the patient discharged on the same day.
PAE: Tissue Reduction via Vascular Intervention
In PAE, the blood vessels supplying the prostate are blocked by accessing the vessels in the groin. This reduces blood flow, causing the prostate to shrink.
Points to Consider:
• Success is highly dependent on the experience of the interventional radiologist performing the procedure.
• Vascular anatomy varies among patients, making it challenging to locate the target vessels.
• It is still considered experimental in some countries.
• Long-term outcome data is limited.
Why Might Rezum Be a More Reasonable Option?
• It has been tested in a broader patient population.
• Long-term clinical results are available.
• It can be performed quickly with a low complication rate.
• Results are more predictable.
In PAE, outcomes may vary depending on vascular anatomy and the physician’s experience, and there are risks such as unintended vessel occlusion.
Our Approach at UroHealth
Every patient is different. At UroHealth:
• We assess the severity of the disease,
• The shape and size of the prostate,
• Your lifestyle and expectations together.
We do not recommend just one method; we explain all scientific options and make the decision together.
Result: Empower Yourself with Knowledge, Choose the Right Treatment
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a treatable condition. However, the choice of method must be tailored to the individual patient.
Rezum stands out as the most suitable and safe option for many men today, offering rapid recovery, a low-risk profile, and high patient satisfaction.