BPH/Enlarged Prostate
Throughout the course of his life, a male’s prostate goes through several growth cycles. As the prostate gets larger, it presses against the urethra. Over time, as a man ages, his bladder may become weaker, which leads to the inability to empty the bladder completely. This narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention cause several of the factors associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH.
BPH – also known as an enlarged prostate – is a very common condition. In fact, approximately 50% of men between 50 and 60 experience BPH and as many as 90% of men 80+ have BPH. As its name suggests, BPH is benign, and does not lead to cancer.
Symptoms of BPH / Enlarged Prostate
The most common symptom of BPH is the frequent need to urinate. Additional symptoms include:
· Trouble starting to urinate
· A feeling of urgency to urinate
· A weak urine flow
· The need to strain to urinate
· Stopping and starting urinating multiple times
· Feeling that the bladder is full (even if you’ve just gone to the bathroom)
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy uses the natural energy stored in water vapor, or steam. Clinical studies show a positive safety profile with the ability to relieve symptoms associated with BPH. During each 9-second treatment*, sterile water vapor is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam turns back into water, all the stored energy is released, causing the cells to die. Over time, your body’s natural healing response removes the dead cells, shrinking the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Most patients begin to experience symptom relief in as soon as two weeks, and maximum benefit may occur within three months.
*Patient responses can and do vary. The number of water vapor treatments varies depending on the size of the prostate. The procedure is done during one appointment. The images above are intended to show how the procedure works, not to provide an exact representation of patient results.
What Causes BPH?
There are a number of factors that may contribute to an enlarged prostate. There is some evidence to suggest that the shifts in testosterone levels and estrogen levels in men as they age may lead to BPH. Other studies have shown that dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the male hormone that contributes to prostate growth, can be the cause of BPH.
Either way, experiencing enlarged prostate / BPH can be very uncomfortable for men. In fact, some cases can lead to kidney damage, so it is advisable to meet with a urologist quickly to determine a course of treatment.
Treatment Options for BPH
If left untreated, BPH can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder and kidney stones, or worse – an emergency situation in which a man cannot urinate at all. There are a variety of potential treatment options for BPH, ranging from leaving it alone and monitoring the condition to surgical procedures.
A urologist can help to determine the best next steps by weighing several factors, such as:
· Patient age
· Prostate size
· How symptoms are interfering with a patient’s life
· Patient’s overall health
Several common options used to treat BPH include:
· Prescription medication (alpha blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or a combination of both)· Minimally invasive surgery options, such as Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy offered at Avant Concierge Urology. This treatment option has been proven to provide patients with significant improvement in BPH symptoms.
As with most medical conditions, it is best to confer with your physician to determine how you can treat your BPH / enlarged prostate condition. The expert team at Avant Concierge Urology has best-in-class training and the latest technologically advanced treatment options to help alleviate any discomfort you’re feeling as a result of an enlarged prostate.
How the Rezūm System Works
NEW CLINICAL TRIAL UNDERWAY TO TREAT BPH AT AVANT
As of June 2022, Avant Concierge Urology is pleased to have been the first doctor’s office globally to have successfully performed the ProVee procedure, inserting a nitinol expander designed to gently re-shape the enlarged prostate and alleviate the symptoms caused by BPH.
In testing the procedure, the ProVIDE pivotal clinical trial is officially underway to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the system, sponsored by ProVerum Limited, an Irish medical device company developing a minimally invasive solution to BPH in doctor’s office settings.
As explained by ProVerum, ProVee is a ‘stent-like’ expander designed to gently open up the obstructed urethra without heating, piercing, cutting, or removing part of the prostate. The delivery system for the expander is thinner than most currently available BPH treatment options, and the uncomplicated procedure is intended to be performed in an outpatient or doctor’s office setting.
Says Avant Medical Director Dr. Sijo Parekattil: “The ProVee procedure is straightforward and comfortably performed in a doctor’s office. I see many patients whose quality of life is adversely impacted by the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, so the ProVee System represents an exciting new alternative for BPH treatment.”
Avant Concierge Urology is currently enrolling patients for the ProVIDE clinical trial. Contact Avant for information about potentially enrolling.