According to the Urology Care Foundation, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 80. In fact, it is estimated that BPH affects approximately 50 percent of men in their 50s and up to 90 percent of men older than 80. Until recently, the most common treatments for BPH have been surgery and prescription medications. Nowadays, however, there have been new breakthroughs in technology, the result of which is a new water vapor therapy called Rezum
Board certified urologist Dr. Diego Rubinowicz and founder of the Urology Center of Palm Beach, has already helped hundreds of patients using Rezum. “So many men are suffering, needlessly taking pills that barely even help their symptoms,” explains Dr. Rubinowicz, “When in one single day, in just in a few minutes, in fact, they can have this in-office procedure and be relieved of their symptoms completely.”
Common symptoms of BPH include frequent and urgent urination, getting up multiples time during the night to urinate, a slow urinary stream, the sensation of incomplete emptying, urinary discomfort or burning, and starting and stopping urination. Up until now, only prescription medications and surgeries have been recommended as the only treatments for BPH, but Dr. Rubinowicz would like to help change that. “Rezum is still unheard of by many,” he explains, “and most men don’t discuss things like this, so it’s up to doctors like me to get the word out there that this type of procedure exists.”
How it works: The Rezum procedure uses sterile water vapor (steam) that is injected into the enlarged portions of the prostate. The steam causes the prostate cells that are responsible for the enlargement to die, which then leads to shrinking of the prostate, which in turn creates a more open urinary pathway. According to Dr. Rubinowicz, the procedure is minimally invasive, office based and done under sedation and local anesthetic, therefore there is no need for the hospital or general anesthesia. The Rezum procedure takes less than 2-3 minutes to perform and is covered by most insurance, providing significant cost savings compared to expensive surgeries and hospital stays. There is a very low retreatment rate (4.4% in five years, which is still being studied because the procedure is only four years old) and minimal to no effect on ejaculation or sexual function. Postoperatively, a catheter is required for two or three days after the procedure, but men can resume their normal activities immediately following it.
“Our hope is that more and more people spread the word about the Rezum procedure so the need for pills and inpatient procedures with lengthy hospital stays becomes a thing of the past,” adds Dr. Rubinowicz. He does note that the Rezum procedure is not for everyone, and he recommends the patient discuss all options with his doctor before making a decision.