As we get older, our bodies change in lots of ways. For men, one of the most common changes is prostate enlargement, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
A small gland located near your bladder, the prostate gland produces the fluid that protects and transports sperm. As men age, the gland often becomes larger, causing frequent urination and other symptoms that can interfere with sleep and other activities.
Alfred Shtainer, MD, FACS, and the team at Adult and Pediatric Urology help men relieve those symptoms with an innovative treatment called Rezum® designed to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate gland. Let’s look at why prostate enlargement happens and how Rezum therapy can help.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia happens when age-related hormonal changes cause the gland to enlarge. BPH is extremely common, affecting about half of men in their 50s, 70% of men in their 60s, and 80% of men 70 and older.
While BPH isn’t dangerous on its own, it can cause disruptive symptoms, like:
Because the enlarged gland interrupts urine flow, it also increases your risk of urinary tract infections.
In addition to older age, a family history of BPH increases your own risk of developing BPH, and so do obesity and metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, although BPH happens in response to a specific hormone called dihydrotestosterone, levels of this hormone tend to be the same in men with and without BPH, indicating other factors at play.
Traditional treatments for BPH include medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery. Unfortunately, these methods aren’t always effective, and surgery comes with its own risks. Rezum offers an alternative — a minimally invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis and yielding long-lasting results.
Before recommending Rezum, Dr. Shtainer performs a complete prostate evaluation to rule out prostate cancer and to ensure you’re a good candidate for Rezum treatment. During your evaluation, Dr. Shtainer and his team measure the prostate gland and perform blood tests to assess prostate-related parameters to customize your Rezum treatment plan.
The minimally invasive Rezum procedure is performed on an outpatient basis using a special device designed to deliver steam directly to the prostate gland. The device is inserted through the penis and advanced to the gland.
A tiny needle administers steam in short, nine-second bursts. The steam shrinks the prostate cells and eliminates targeted cells to reduce the size of the gland over time. Most men benefit from 2-7 injections, depending on the size of the gland, and both the penis and the prostate gland are completely numbed before the procedure to ensure your comfort.
The treatment can cause some irritation and swelling afterward, so you’ll need to use a catheter for a few days while the area heals and swelling resolves. You’ll also need someone to drive you home after your Rezum treatment. Most men experience symptom relief within a few weeks.
Even though prostate enlargement is almost always benign, there’s a small chance that enlargement is due to prostate cancer. If you have any symptoms of prostate enlargement, having an evaluation is important to ensure you receive the most appropriate care for your needs.
To learn more about Rezum or to schedule a prostate evaluation, request an appointment online or over the phone with Adult and Pediatric Urology in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York, today.
