BPH and Rezum - Key Messages and FAQ

Source: Boston Scientific Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Rezum Water Vapor Therapy Key Messages and FAQ (URO-1450615-AA, November 2022). PDF original: Download the PDF (BPH and Rezum key messages and FAQ). Content reproduced for accessibility. See also the Rezum overview page.

Key messages

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which a man's prostate enlarges and squeezes the urethra, causing frustrating symptoms such as frequent or urgent urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, and the need to get up several times a night to urinate.
• Treatment options for BPH range from behaviour modification to medications, minimally invasive procedures and surgery. Medications may not work for everyone, and may have undesirable side effects such as dizziness or sexual dysfunction.¹ Some minimally invasive procedures may only treat BPH symptoms, not the underlying condition.
• Rezum Water Vapor Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure for men looking to treat their BPH, not just the symptoms. It uses natural water vapour to reduce the size of the prostate and provide lasting symptom relief from BPH without invasive surgery or the potential side effects of prescription drugs.²
• Clinical studies support that Rezum therapy relieves BPH symptoms effectively, while also preserving sexual function.^2,3 It helps most men see symptom improvement within a few weeks and return to regular activities within a few days after treatment.^3,*
• Men with BPH who are dissatisfied with their current treatment, including prescription drugs, should consider Rezum therapy: a minimally invasive procedure that treats the underlying condition, not just the symptoms. Patients should talk with their doctor before moving forward with any treatment option.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the cause of BPH?

As many men get older, their prostate gland enlarges, which may squeeze the urethra and obstruct the flow of urine. Other risk factors for BPH include family history, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.¹

2. How is BPH treated?

A wide variety of treatment options are available for BPH, including watchful waiting, behavioural modification, medication, minimally invasive therapies and surgery. Medication is the most common first-line treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Minimally invasive or surgical treatment might be recommended if symptoms are moderate to severe, medication doesn't relieve the symptoms, or the patient has other health issues.

3. What is Rezum Water Vapor Therapy?

Rezum therapy is a treatment for men looking to treat BPH, not just the symptoms. It uses natural water vapour to reduce the size of the prostate and provide lasting symptom relief from BPH without invasive surgery or the potential side effects of prescription drugs.²

Clinical studies support that Rezum therapy relieves BPH symptoms effectively, while also preserving sexual function.³ It helps most men see symptom improvement within a few weeks and return to regular activities within a few days after treatment.^3,*

4. Who may benefit from Rezum Water Vapor Therapy?

Clinical studies show that Rezum therapy provides significant sustained improvement in symptoms and quality of life.² It may be an option for those who have given up on watchful waiting and lifestyle changes, men who are dissatisfied with, have stopped or don't want to start taking BPH medications, and men not interested in other minimally invasive or surgical BPH procedures. Rezum therapy removes excess prostate tissue with water vapour, thereby treating the disease while also relieving symptoms and preserving sexual function.³

5. Why is Rezum Water Vapor Therapy an important option?

For years, the primary options for treating BPH were medications or invasive surgery. Rezum therapy is an option for men who do not want to take medication or are dissatisfied with medication symptom relief, and who want to avoid invasive surgery or implants to treat their BPH.

Market research indicates that preserving sexual function is a priority for men when it comes to BPH treatments.⁴ Clinical studies show that physicians can offer Rezum as an option that removes the obstructive tissue and treats the associated symptoms without permanent implants or prescriptions, while preserving sexual function.²

6. How is the Rezum Water Vapor Therapy procedure performed? Is the patient awake during the procedure?

The short procedure takes place in hospital and requires general anaesthesia. During each 9-second treatment, natural water vapour is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam contacts the tissue and turns back into water, all the stored energy is released, killing the excess prostate cells. Over time, the body's natural healing response absorbs the dead cells and shrinks the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Depending on the size of the prostate, the number of water vapour treatments varies.

7. How quickly do patients experience symptom relief?

Clinical studies show that most men experience symptom relief as soon as two weeks after treatment with Rezum therapy, and maximum benefit may occur within three months.¹ As with any procedure, patient responses can vary.

8. How soon can patients return to regular activities?

Clinical studies show that following treatment with Rezum therapy, most men return to regular activities within a few days.^3,* The patient's physician will make personal recommendations on resuming activity.

9. How long do improvements last?

Current clinical studies demonstrate that, following treatment with Rezum therapy, symptom improvement is sustained through five years, and studies are ongoing to determine longer-term patient outcomes.²

10. Can Rezum Water Vapor Therapy cause erectile dysfunction (ED)?

Clinical studies have demonstrated that Rezum therapy preserves erectile and urinary functions. There were no reports of erectile dysfunction (ED) as a result of treatment with Rezum therapy.³ However, there is a possibility that an underlying condition may surface following treatment. Each patient should speak with a physician about their individual health situation.

11. Can Rezum Water Vapor Therapy cause urinary incontinence?

In Rezum therapy's clinical studies, there were no reports of post-procedure urinary incontinence as a result of treatment with Rezum therapy.³

12. What are the risks of Rezum Water Vapor Therapy?

All treatments have inherent and associated risks. The Rezum System is intended to relieve symptoms and obstructions, and reduce prostate tissue associated with BPH. It is indicated for men with a prostate volume of 30 cm³ or greater. The Rezum System is also indicated for treatment of prostate with hyperplasia of the central zone and/or a median lobe. Potential risks include but are not limited to painful urination (dysuria), blood in the urine (haematuria), blood in the semen (haematospermia), decrease in ejaculatory volume, suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), and urinary frequency, retention or urgency. Patients should talk with their doctor about benefits and risks before moving forward with any treatment option.

13. Has Rezum Water Vapor Therapy been clinically tested?

Rezum therapy has undergone extensive clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment.² It is included in the American Urological Association's BPH treatment guidelines and has five-year follow-up data covering prostates with hyperplasia of the central zone, lateral lobe and/or median lobe.³ Over the five years, the trial showed a surgical retreatment rate of 4.4%.²

14. Can patients be treated with Rezum Water Vapor Therapy while on their current BPH medication?

During the Rezum therapy pivotal study, all patients discontinued their BPH medication to ensure the efficacy seen was from Rezum therapy alone. As such, there has been no randomised clinical data collected on using Rezum therapy at the same time as BPH medications.²

15. Can post-radiation patients be treated safely with Rezum Water Vapor Therapy?

Post-radiation patients were not included in the Rezum therapy pivotal study. As such, there has been no data collected for this subset of patients.

16. How is Rezum Water Vapor Therapy different from the UroLift System?

Rezum therapy is a treatment for men looking to treat their BPH, not just the symptoms. It uses natural water vapour to reduce the size of the prostate and provide lasting symptom relief from BPH without invasive surgery, reliance on implants or the potential side effects of prescription drugs.^2,3 Surgical retreatment rates for Rezum therapy were 4.4% at five years.²

The UroLift System involves permanent implants that remain inside the body and treat the symptoms of BPH. Results from the L.I.F.T. study show surgical retreatment rates for the UroLift System of 13.6% at five years.⁶

Different clinical investigations are not directly comparable; talk with your doctor about which option fits your individual circumstances. You can also read more about UroLift on this site.

17. How is Rezum Water Vapor Therapy different from laser therapy?

Laser therapy is an important option for patients who may not be appropriate candidates for Rezum therapy. Laser therapy may involve a short hospital stay and has been associated with shorter catheterisation time, less bleeding and a faster recovery than traditional surgery.^7-11 The individual's medical history, health condition and other factors will influence treatment decisions. Read more about laser prostate surgery and HoLEP on this site.

Talk to your doctor

Read more about Rezum on our Rezum overview page, or contact Urology NSW to discuss your options with Dr Raji Kooner.