Frequently Asked Questions

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland affecting about 50% of men by age 60, and up to 90% of men by age 85.¹ This enlargement can compress the urethra, reducing the flow of urine from the bladder, and sometimes blocking it entirely. The symptoms of BPH include:

• Urinary frequency
• Irregular flow
• Urgency
• Weak stream
• Straining
• Getting up at night to urinate

Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses the natural energy stored in a few drops of water to treat the excess prostate tissue causing BPH symptoms. So, you can get back in the game quickly. No need to be in the hospital. And no need to continue taking costly BPH medications.

Clinical studies show that many men living with BPH experience symptom relief with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy.²  Rezūm Therapy is indicated for men ≥ 50 years of age with a prostate volume 30cm³ ≤ 80cm³. It’s an option for those who’ve given up on watchful waiting and lifestyle changes, men who’ve stopped or don't want to start taking BPH medications, or men not interested in other minimally invasive or surgical BPH procedures.

The best way to find out is by talking with your doctor to determine if Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy is a good treatment for you based on your symptoms and treatment goals. Start by taking our BPH Quiz. Then bring a printout of the results with you to your appointment. Need to find a doctor who specializes in Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy? Use our doctor finder to locate one near you.

Cost depends on your insurance company and your benefit package. While more and more plans cover Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy, it’s always a good idea to discuss any deductibles or out-of-pocket costs with your doctor’s office up front. However, there is no guarantee of insurance coverage for a particular procedure or product. It is the responsibility of the patient to contact their insurance provider for specific coverage information.

Since Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure, it can be performed in a doctor’s office, clinic or other outpatient setting.³

Most patients report relatively minor discomfort during the procedure.^**2 Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy can be performed under oral sedation or local anesthesia and doesn’t require general anesthesia.³ Your urologist will discuss your options for maximizing your comfort during the procedure.

Clinical studies show that most men experience symptom relief as soon as 2 weeks after the treatment, and improvements continue for up to 3 months.^**2 Patient responses can and do vary. 

Clinical studies show that most men return to regular activities within a few days.^**3 Your urologist will discuss this with you and make personal recommendations.

Current clinical studies demonstrate sustained symptom improvement out to 5 years.⁴

Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy is a treatment for men 50 years or older to reduce prostate tissue and relieve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, or BPH.

Potential risks associated with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy include, but are not limited to painful or frequent urination, blood in the urine or semen, decrease in ejaculatory volume, urinary tract infection (UTI), inability to urinate or completely empty the bladder, urgent need to urinate, inability to ejaculate, urinary incontinence, inflammation of the epididymis (a tube at the back of the testicle that carries sperm), worsening erectile dysfunction, pain/discomfort with ejaculation, pelvic or penile pain/discomfort, poor or splayed urine stream, inflammation of the prostate gland, scarring and narrowing of the urethra.
In rare cases, the following side effects may occur narrowing of the bladder neck (area of the bladder that connects to the urethra), bladder stone, severe infection.

During the healing phase following the procedure, patients may experience continued or worsening BPH symptoms, which may require the use of a catheter for several days. It is important to talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks associated with Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy.

There are no reports of new erectile dysfunction as a result of Rezūm treatment. Based on data from the Rezūm pivotal study, US FDA approved clinical study, ejaculatory function was preserved; however, men with BPH are at higher risk for other potential urinary/ejaculatory challenges and there is a possibility that an underlying condition may surface following treatment with the Rezūm System.³ Be sure to talk with your urologist about your individual health situation.

*Boston Scientific compensated the patients for their time associated with the videos.
**Dependent on individual clinical situation and healing response.

References

1. Barry M, Roehrborn C. Management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ann Rev Med. 1997 Feb;48:177-89.
2. McVary KT, Rogers T, Roehrborn CG. Rezūm water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: 4-year results from randomized controlled study. Urology. 2019 Apr;126:171-9.
3. McVary KT, Gange SN, Gittelman MC, et al. Minimally invasive prostate convective water vapor energy ablation: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2016 May;195(5):1529-38.
4. McVary KT, Roehrborn C. Five year results of the prospective, randomized controlled trial of water vapor thermal therapy for treatment of lower urinary tractsymptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Late-Breaking Abstract. J Urol. 2020 Apr;203(4):e1021.
   

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