Understanding your treatment
RezūmTM Water Vapor Therapy treats excess prostate tissue causing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called an enlarged prostate. It is a procedure for men 50 years or older performed in doctor's offices or hospitals which uses the natural energy stored in steam to shrink the prostate, so urine can flow freely. There are no incisions, and typically it does not require general anesthesia. It has also been shown to preserve sexual function through five years after the procedure.1,2
How it works
Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy can be performed right in your urologist's office, or at an outpatient surgery facility, and is completed in one appointment. The procedure consists of a series of 9-second treatments, during which sterile water vapor is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam contacts the prostate tissue, the stored energy is released into the tissue. Over time, your body's natural healing response absorbs the treated tissue, shrinking the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Your doctor will determine the number of treatments you need based on the size of your prostate.²
Potential Benefits of Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy
After therapy, most patients begin to experience BPH symptom relief in as soon as 2 weeks, with a maximum benefit occurring within approximately 3 months.*1,2
Other potential benefits of Rezūm Therapy include:
- Surgical retreatment rate: after 5 years, only 4.4% of patients needed another surgery for BPH symptoms³
- Safe and effective BPH symptom relief as shown in clinical studies¹,²
- Does not typically require general anesthesia²
- No permanent implant
- Preserves sexual function⁴
- Symptom relief that lasts²
- FDA cleared; included in the American Urological Association guidelines for BPH treatment
Knowing the risks and side effects
Like all medical procedures, there are risks associated with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy. The potential side effects associated with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy include, but not limited to: painful or frequent urination, blood in the urine or semen, decrease in ejaculatory volume, urinary tract infection (UTI), inability to urinate or completely empty the bladder, urgent need to urinate, inability to ejaculate, urinary incontinence, inflammation of the epididymis (a tube at the back of the testicle that carries sperm), worsening erectile dysfunction, pain/discomfort with ejaculation, pelvic or penile pain/discomfort, poor or splayed urine stream, inflammation of the prostate gland, scarring and narrowing of the urethra.
In rare cases, the following side effects may occur: narrowing of the bladder neck (area of the bladder that connects to the urethra), bladder stone, and severe infection. During the healing phase following the procedure, patients may experience continued or worsening BPH symptoms, which may require the use of a catheter for several days. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks associated with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy.
Recovering from your procedure
After your procedure, be sure to ask your doctor about returning to normal physical activities. They will guide you according to your treatment and existing health conditions. Based on a clinical study, here’s what men can typically expect while recovering:*
- Needing a catheter for about 3 days following the procedure to support the healing process*¹
- Returning to regular activities within a few days*¹
- Experiencing BPH symptom relief in as soon as 2 weeks, and maximum benefit may occur within 3 months*¹
Regular follow-up visits
You may have a follow-up scheduled with your doctor within the first few days after the procedure to remove your catheter and check your symptoms and recovery progress. Continue taking any oral medications as prescribed, and over-the-counter pain medications as needed or directed, by your doctor.
It’s important to maintain follow-up visits, even if you’re feeling well. During these visits, your doctor can monitor your progress, evaluate your medications, check the status of your overall health and determine the outcome of your treatment.