Is your prostate enlarged and causing problems? Let's learn about a new non-surgical treatment (Rezūm Procedure)

As men age, one of the problems they face is difficulty urinating. Having to get up frequently at night to urinate, difficulty starting to urinate, a narrowing of the urethra, a feeling of never-ending flow... You may be familiar with these things. The main reason for this is an enlarged prostate. This can be treated with medication, or sometimes surgery. But today we are talking about a very simple and effective treatment method that can be done without surgery.

What exactly is Rezūm?

Simply put, Rezūm is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment specifically designed to treat a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Imagine, this involves using a special device to shrink the unwanted parts of your enlarged prostate gland using hot steam . This device is inserted through your urethra. So there is no need to cut or sew anywhere on your body . The doctor numbs the area before the treatment, so you won't feel much pain.

What condition is this treatment for?

This treatment directly targets a condition called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) . In Sinhala, we call this 'benign enlargement of the prostate gland'. As the name suggests, this is not cancer .

As your prostate gland, which is located near your bladder, grows larger with age, it can compress the urethra, which is the passage through which urine passes. This can cause the symptoms we mentioned earlier, such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and changes in ejaculation. This condition usually occurs after the age of 50. But it can sometimes start at a younger age.

How does this Rezūm treatment work?

This process is much simpler than you think.

1. Preparation: This is an in-office procedure. You don't need to go to a large operating room. You will first be asked to urinate. Then, a local anesthetic will be given to numb the urethra and the area around the prostate. This will greatly reduce the discomfort you feel.

2. Treatment: Next, the urologist inserts a long, thin, tube-like handheld device into your urethra.

3. Steaming: A small needle comes out of the end of this tube and shoots hot water steam into the enlarged areas of the prostate gland for a short period of time, about 9 seconds. The heat of this steam instantly destroys those unwanted cells. Over time, the body itself removes these dead cells, so the enlarged areas gradually shrink.

4. After treatment: You will need to have a urinary catheter in place for a few days after treatment to help you pass urine more easily until the swelling goes down.

The entire treatment usually takes about 30 minutes.

What are the benefits and success rates of Rezūm treatment?

There are several advantages to this treatment.

• You can get relief from BPH by continuing to take medication .
• You can see significant improvement in symptoms within a few weeks.
• It hardly affects sexual function (preserves sexual function).
• You can go home the same day without staying in the hospital (outpatient procedure).
• General anesthesia is not required.
• You can recover soon.
• If symptoms ever reappear, this treatment can be repeated.

What are the risks?

As with any medical treatment, there are some minor risks involved, but not everyone gets them.

• Feeling pain or discomfort when urinating or ejaculating.
• Urinating more frequently than usual or having an urgent need to urinate.
• Small amounts of blood in the urine (hematuria).
• Chances of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Failure to ejaculate during sexual climax (dry ejaculation).

If you have any doubts about any of this, never be afraid to talk to your doctor.

What should I do to recover quickly after treatment?

For the first few weeks after treatment, your BPH symptoms may feel a little worse. This is due to swelling. But don't worry, this is normal. You should start to feel a lot better within a few weeks. It may take up to 3 months to see full results. Follow these steps for a speedy recovery.

Have a good rest.

Your body needs time to heal after treatment, so rest is essential. At least one day at home is recommended. It's okay to drive home or walk a short distance. But avoid strenuous activities like running, lifting weights, or cycling for a few weeks.

Avoid sexual activity.

Refraining from sex and masturbation for a few days will help the internal wounds heal.

Drink plenty of water.

Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, helps wash away the blood in the urine.

Avoid certain drinks

There are some drinks that can irritate your bladder. It's a good idea to cut back on caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, energy drinks, carbonated drinks (like soda), and citrus fruit drinks (like oranges and grapefruit) for a few days.

When to call a doctor immediately

You should usually see your doctor again in about two to three weeks. However, if you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) .

• If you can't urinate at all.
• If there is unbearable, severe pain.
• If the fever is higher than 38 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit).
• If you feel cold and shiver (chills).

Prostate, Rezūm, BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Urinary problems, Men's health, Surgery, urology, prostate, Rezūm procedure Sinhala