As urologists, most of my colleagues and I take a “shared decision-making” approach to patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). We counsel our patients on their options for intervention, which can include behavioral or lifestyle modifications, medical therapy, and interventional procedures. Together, physician and patient decide which therapy to pursue, an approach supported by the American Urological Association Guidelines for shared decision making.¹

While medication and interventional therapy are the main treatments for LUTS/BPH, some physicians try a “step therapy” where medication is tried first—because many patients prefer to avoid surgery, viewing medication as less intrusive and less expensive than surgical intervention.^1,2 Often, men stay on medications for years until side effects or waning effectiveness cause them to consider interventional therapy.^1-3

However, the introduction of minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs), such as Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy, offer physicians and their patients a safe, effective, durable, in-office treatment for LUTS/BPH that can improve quality of life and preserve sexual function.^3-5 Thus, adding another option to consider in the shared decision-making discussion.

As a result, in my practice, my patients are increasingly more comfortable discussing MISTs as a possible first choice of BPH treatment. And many of them are opting for a MIST first. Furthermore, according to a four‐year single‐center study of 255 men, 97% of patients would recommend Rezūm Therapy to a friend.⁶

Why the change? Although medications may be seen as less intrusive and less expensive, most medications, specifically the commonly used alpha blockers, do not induce changes in the size of the prostate and can be associated with various side effects, such as headache, postural hypotension, fatigue, and dizziness.⁷ They can also negatively affect sexual function, and some can lead to decreased libido, impotence, and ejaculatory dysfunction.⁷

Meanwhile, Rezūm Therapy also has side effects. Most notably, a time limited dysuria, hematuria, hematospermia, urinary frequency, retention, urinary tract infection (UTI), decrease in ejaculatory volume, and urgency.⁵ Following is an overview of the indications, contraindications, and adverse effects of both Rezūm Therapy and some common medications used to treat BPH.

Research shows that Rezūm Therapy provides effective and durable improvements with lower observed clinical progression rates compared to daily medications.¹¹ The American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines support the consideration of MIST as a first-line treatment in certain clinical scenarios when the therapy choice is made as part of a shared decision-making process.¹

Following are some of the considerations when evaluating treatment options, such as Rezūm Therapy, for BPH:

Safety: Both Rezūm Therapy and medications have a strong safety profile.^5,12

Side effects: As a minimally invasive procedure, typically done in the physician’s office with local anesthesia, Rezūm Therapy’s side effects are typically short-term and late-related adverse events were rare.⁵ Some of the common side effects associated with Rezūm Therapy are dysuria, hematuria, hematospermia, urinary frequency, retention, urinary tract infection (UTI), decrease in ejaculatory volume, and urgency.⁸ A complete list of side effects is provided in the labeling supplied with the device.

Medications side effects include hypotension, weakness, tachycardia, tremulousness, erectile dysfunction, decreased ejaculatory volume, a decrease in libido, gynecomastia, orthostatic hypotension, and decreased fertility depending on the specific medication chosen.^9,10

Efficacy: Rezūm Therapy treats the cause of BPH symptoms and lasts over time.5 In the Rezūm Therapy pivotal trial, outcomes improved from the first visit three months post-procedure and were maintained through 60 months after a single Rezūm Therapy procedure (IPSS reduced 48%, QOL increased 45%, Qmax improved 44%, BPHII decreased 48%) with preservation of sexual function.⁵ Several clinical trials have reported that medications, such as alpha blockers, can be efficacious over both the short and long term. Yet, these drugs (alpha blockers) do not induce changes in the size of the prostate.⁷ Therefore, eventually, a patient may need to progress to a MIST. Plus, many patients on medications are inconsistent about staying on their regimen.¹³

Durability: According to one study, BPH clinical progression rates are slower with Rezūm Therapy than with medical therapy.^*11 Rezūm Therapy has been demonstrated to have long-term, effective symptom relief and improved quality of life that remains durable for at least five years.⁵ Prolonged use of many of the medical therapies may lead to a greater number of older patients with larger prostates and decompensated bladders needing intervention.¹⁴

Sexual function and quality of life: Some BPH medications can impair sexual function and reduce libido.^9,10 These side effects are usually resolved with discontinued treatment. Rezūm Therapy preserves sexual function and quality of life out to at least five years, with no clinically meaningful impact to erectile or ejaculatory function.^5,15

Cost effective: Rezūm Therapy is less expensive than combination drug therapy.¹⁶ It also provides quality of life benefits to the patients and is a cost-saving treatment for BPH compared to the medical therapy.¹⁶ Re-treatment rates in particular are low with Rezūm Therapy, which reduces costs to the health care system.⁵

In my opinion, when choosing an initial therapy, patients with LUTS/BPH should consider Rezūm Therapy as a treatment option—especially when compared to a potential lifetime of managing medications and their possible side effects.^5,10 Rezūm Therapy offers significant and durable symptom relief, is safe, preserves sexual function, and is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure.⁵ In my experience, when discussing treatment options with patients, the most compelling reason to pursue Rezūm Therapy as a first-line therapy is that it can enhance the patient’s quality of life.⁵

*Results from different clinical investigations are not directly comparable. Information provided for educational purposes only.