Rezūm Steam Therapy for BPH: Is It Right for You?

Are your BPH symptoms keeping you up at night?
Do you have to plan activities around how close the nearest bathroom will be?
Would you like to find a non-surgical way to relieve your urinary symptoms with a short office visit?

If you said yes to these questions, Rezūm water vapor therapy could be the answer you’re looking for.

What is Rezūm water vapor therapy?

Rezūm water vapor therapy is a non-surgical treatment for BPH that uses the natural energy stored in water vapor, or steam, to remove excess prostate tissue that is pressing on your urethra. (Which just means that it shrinks your prostate to a healthy size.)

Rezume Therapy

Is Rezūm water vapor therapy right for me?

You may be a candidate for Rezūm therapy if you are over 50 years of age with a prostate volume between 30 and 80 g. Rezūm works well for men whose BPH, or an enlarged prostate, involves the central zone and/or a median lobe. It’s an option for men who have tried watchful waiting and lifestyle changes and men who no longer want to take BPH medications. It’s also a good choice for men who don’t want an invasive surgical procedure.

How does Rezūm work?

After injecting anesthesia around the prostate, Dr. B-T will look inside the urine channel and visualize the prostate. He then targets several areas of the prostate blocking the flow of urine. Each targeted steam event only takes 9 seconds and releases short bursts of heated water vapor (steam). The number of 9-second treatments you will need will depend on the size of your prostate. Most patients only require 4-6 treatments — that’s less than 1 whole minute (if you’re interested in the math here).

Following the procedure, your body’s natural healing will do its job and reduce the size of the prostate by safely shrinking the treated tissue. Over time, your urethra will reopen and your urinary symptoms will improve.

Did you say steam?

Yes, the water is heated, but don’t let that concern you. Most patients feel only minor discomfort. Dr. B-T always injects lidocaine around the prostate to minimize discomfort. He also offers nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for patients with anxiety or worried that the lidocaine may not be enough for them. Dr. B-T will talk with you about anesthesia options to be sure you’re comfortable.

What can I expect after my procedure?

You will go home with a catheter, which we will remove in an office visit in three days. Your body will create an inflammatory response to the procedure, which may worsen your urinary symptoms before they get better. Symptoms gradually start improving in two weeks or so and will continue to improve for about three months.

You should be able to return to limited activity after the catheter is removed in three days. Depending on your job, you may be able to return to work at that time also.

Can I stop my BPH medication?

Absolutely! Most men stop taking their medication within the first month after the procedure. Some of the best improvement includes men losing their sense of urgency and sleeping better at night. The prostate blocks the bladder from emptying out completely, so by opening the channel, men get better relief and no longer feel the need to know where the next bathroom is located.

What are the risks of Rezūm?

All surgical procedures have risks, and Rezūm is no exception. Here are the most common side effects for Rezūm:

Painful urination (temporarily)
Blood in the urine and during ejaculation ( temporarily)
Urinary frequency, retention, or urgency. ( usually resolves after several weeks)
Decrease in ejaculatory volume.
A roughly 10% risk of retrograde ejaculation, significantly less than most other BPH procedures

The bottom line

If you’re tired of living with BPH symptoms or taking medications and prefer a minimally invasive procedure, Rezūm water vapor therapy may be a good choice. Dr. B-T will sit down with you and discuss everything you need to know so you can make a well-informed decision.

Click on the button below to make an appointment with Dr. Bevan-Thomas and find out if Rezūm is the right option for you.